Rory McIlroy's first ever senior championship victory happened at Westport Golf Club in June 2005. At the tender age of 15, with his proud father Gerry on his bag, he defeated Eddie McCormack (Galway) on the par (4) 16th, to become the youngest ever winner of the Irish Amateur Close Championship.

The Championship Course (Blue Course) is open to members and visitors during the summer months and golfers can follow in the footsteps of this Major Champion. For the record, Rory qualified with a 36 hole total of 148 (+2) to qualify for the matcplay stages of the Close.

The members are very proud of the club's association with Rory and consequently play 4 competitive events on the Blue course which are Open to visitors, on the last Friday of May, June, July & August each year.

That 2005 Irish Close Championship was a very special tournament for many reasons. For the first time since the legendary Joe Carr, back in the 60s, Donegal golfer Brian McElhinney stood on the first tee at Westport as dual British and Irish Amateur Champion.

Irish Senior International Sean McTiernan (Co. Sligo) recorded an amazing 61 in the first round of strokeplay, which is the current course record; 9 birdies & a chip-in eagle on the 17th. 

The Fred Hawtree designed course, situated on 260 acres of the Lord Sligo Estate, has witnessed a number of famous championship victories over the years.

Mary McKenna & Paul McGinley have confidently walked the majestic final fairways in Westport, where Croagh Patrick watched their every shot, knowing that the P.G.A. Championship and the Ladies Irish Amateur Close titles were theirs for another year. 

Westport has a unique standing in Irish Golf, having hosted Championships for all the Irish Golfing Associations. The highlight for the club was the staging of the '05 Close. With record numbers in attendance over the 5 days of the championship, the members were complimented for their exceptional organisational efforts and stewardship by the G.U.I.

As one of the members mentioned shortly after Rory's US Open victory...."you'll never play Congressional but there will always be a welcome at Westport!"