Willie Park Sr, son of James Park (agricultural labourer & gardener) and Euphemia Park (née Kerr), was a member of a famous Scottish golfing family. He was regarded as one of the top golfers of his day, and won the first Open Championship in 1860, and three more Opens in 1863, 1866 and 1875. His son Willie Park Jr won the Open Championship twice (1887, 1889), while his younger brother Mungo lifted the Claret Jug in 1874.

Like several other early professional golfers, Park started out as a caddie. He later ran a golf equipment making business. On the course, he made his money in challenge matches, often played against other top professionals of the day, most notably Willie Dunn (also from Musselburgh) and the "invincible" pair from St Andrews, Allan Robertson and Old Tom Morris. Park was strong and tall, a long hitter and an excellent putter.

When Allan Robertson died in 1859, he left a void for the mantle of Scotland's "Champion Golfer." In 1860, the country's top eight golfers gathered in Prestwick to find Robertson's successor. That honour was surely shared between Willie Park Sr, who won the inaugural Open Championship in 1860 (and three more in 1863, '66 and '75) and Old Tom Morris (winner in 1861, '62, '64, '67). In the same year as winning his first Open Championship title, Willie Park married Susanne Law. The went on to have 11 children, among them Willie Park Jr, who became a golf professional, Open Championship winner, instructor and writer, and renowned course designer.