Adam Whiston's preparations for the forthcoming PGA Super 60's Tournament will start even earlier than usual after he missed his flight for last year's event.
Whiston, who is an honorary member at Royal Tara Golf Club having retired in February after 29 years' service, and his amateur partner John Byrne are set to travel to England to play in the pro-am next week.
But having missed out last year the pair are taking no chances this time around.
"We entered last year but missed our flight having got caught in traffic and couldn't get another one in time," said the 63-year-old.
"It was so disappointing because we'd had a top-10 finish the year before.
"We gave ourselves plenty of time but we didn't realise there had been an accident and we couldn't get off the road."
The 36-hole pro-am, played on a betterball basis by teams of a professional and an amateur both over 60 years of age, features former Tour and Ryder Cup players.
For the second year running it will be held at Forest Pines near Scunthorpe and boasts a £10,000 prize fund. The two-day tournament starts on Wednesday August 22.
It is one of the events veteran professionals want to play in and so Whiston and his partner will be setting off extra early this time around to make sure there are no hiccups getting there.
"The tournament is great craic because you meet all your old pals for a few days," he added.
"We go there trying to win because everything we play in we try to win."
County Meath-based professional Bobby Browne is another looking to enjoy the event, having secured top-10 finishes every year he has played.
"It is a top-class tournament because all the guys we played against in the 1960s are there and it is nice to meet them," said the 64-year-old, who has been professional at Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club for 40 years.
"We have got some outstanding players like Hugh Jackson, who just missed out on the Ryder Cup.
"The competitive edge is still there but the camaraderie is more important than winning or losing.
"There may be some pressure if you are in contention but there is no pressure for most of the actual event."
Browne, who will again be playing with Brian Hall, praised the PGA for their continued staging of the event which gives experienced players the chance to continue playing tournament golf.
"The fact you can use buggies is a big bonus as the fellas of 75 can still play a round because the first thing to go when you play golf is the legs," he added.
"I'll keep going as long as the legs hold me up."
The inaugural PGA Super 60's Tournament was staged in 1994 in response to the increasing popularity of seniors golf at professional and amateur level.
PGA chief executive Sandy Jones said: "The Super 60's is always popular and gives many of our members the opportunity to renew old friendships but once they get on the course the competitive instincts are still fierce and it's always keenly-contested right down to the wire."