A MUSSELBURGH couple have created a lasting legacy to a local golfer and winner of the first Open Championship. . . after discovering they have lived at his former home for more than 30 years.

Andrew and Audrey Inglis recently installed a plaque in memory of Willie Park senior (1833-1903) at their house on Ravensheugh Road – near Musselburgh Links, one of the oldest golf courses in the world, where the famous Wallyford golfer spent his last days.

They found about the historical link from Ian Wood, former sub-postmaster at Levenhall, after he spotted information online about the four-time Open winner.

Mr Wood said: “It made mention that he died at Levenhall.

“Whilst I knew a little bit about golf history and its strong links with Musselburgh during my 15 years, up until 2014, as sub-postmaster there, this was the first mention I’d seen of the Willie Park connection to Levenhall as opposed to Musselburgh and the Old Course.

“I use the Scotland’s People website run by the National Records of Scotland in my local and family history research so quite quickly found Willie’s death registration in 1903 together with the Park family entry on the 1901 Census: both at Laurel Bank, Levenhall.

“I knew the house owners as former customers so when I next saw them I mentioned what I’d discovered and expected them to know about it, particularly as Andrew, like me, is a keen golfer. However, this was news to him and his wife Audrey so I passed them copies of what I’d found.”

Mr Inglis made contact with Historic Scotland which supported his request to have the plaque installed on the front of their house.

And Mr Inglis, who has lived in the house 34 years, said: “We are quite proud to tell people about it. It is good to support Musselburgh’s heritage and do everything you can to attract people to the town.

“I have been up to the loft to see if there are any of Willie Park senior’s putters but there are none!”

In a twist of fate, Mr Wood’s daughter and son-in-law live on Park Drive, Wallyford, which was named after Willie Park senior, a four-time winner of The Open.

Mr Wood said: “I think the plaque is a fitting tribute to Willie Park senior.”

He suggested that it would be good to see some kind of golfing trail, with accompanying leaflet, produced for the Honest Toun.

A successful golf exhibition, curated by the great-grandson of Willie Park senior, Mungo Park, was held at Musselburgh Museum in the summer. He was in the town again last week to give a talk on Musselburgh’s importance in the history of the sport.

He said: “Musselburgh Museum’s exhibition has just restored some of the town’s proper reputation in golf history.

“I am grateful to the owners of Laurel Bank and to Historic Scotland for giving my great-grandfather a singular place in that history. There are many others in the town whose story is as rich, and I hope that Musselburgh’s position as the 19th century’s ‘home of golf’ will come to be more widely understood.”