Ged Furey will take a sentimental journey down Memory Lane when he pitches up at St Annes Old Links Wednesday (21 May), in the PGA National Pro-Am Championship regional final.
The Pleasington professional won the title in 1996 when he was arguably at the peak of his playing career. In those days Furey was Mr Consistency, capturing the PGA North Region Championship twice and the Leeds Cup.
He had dozens of lesser titles to his name but then tragically, five years ago, he was struck by a serious health problem. After developing a growth on his spinal chord, he felt he had no option but to gamble on a risky operation to treat it.
"It worked but I'd had so long out of the game that I felt I would never be my old self again," revealed Furey. "I always played to win and I simply did not want to make up the numbers."
Apart from a Sunday morning foursomes with the Pleasington captain, he does not get out the clubs very often but is relishing the challenge at Old Links.
"I qualified there for my one Open Championship appearance at Royal Lytham in 1988," he said.
"I got through by shooting three under and level and finished third, scoring 18 pars in horrendous conditions in the second round.
"But the course is not too demanding on a calm day and I'm certainly going to give it my best shot.
"I've been practising and my game is fairly steady so I'm not regarding it simply as a day out, although whatever happens I intend to enjoy myself.
"I certainly did last year and did not disgrace myself."
Furey will team up with businessman Michael Banister, an 11 handicapper who qualified with a 67, in their quest to reach the grand final at the PGA Sultan course at Antalya Golf Club in Turkey at the end of the year in Europe's biggest pro-am carrying a £30,000 prize fund.
Paul Stoller has an additional incentive to reach the final - he worked at the National Club just across the road from Antalya.
"My wife's also Turkish so it would be great to go back," he said.
Stoller left there two years ago to settle as professional at Ulverston, on the fringe of the Lake District.
"I taught in several countries but now I'm home can play a few more regional events which suits me fine, although I'm competing against a lot of ambitious lads," he said.
Stoller's last major success was winning the regional qualifier for the Open Championship at Moortown, Leeds, in 1997. But with 20 handicapper and Barrow shipyard worker Twiggy Birch (that's how he signs his card) playing alongside him at Old Links he agrees that "anything can happen".
"We are having a pro-am at Ulverston on June 16 so I'm also sharpening up my game for that," he added.
Meanwhile, Hesketh pro Scott Astin is hoping it will be fourth time lucky after reaching the finals for the last three years.
Also expected to be in contention is Chorley's Mark Bradley, the 2006 North Region champion, and Leigh's Andrew Baguley.
The winning pair will compete against 15 other regional finalists during the five-day five-star trip to the Sirene Beach & Hotel Resort on Turkey's Mediterranean Coast from November 30 to December 4.
The tournament, which attracts more than 100,000 entries, is in its 24th staging and has been held in Portugal, Spain, Grand Bahamas and Sardinia prior to Turkey last year.