Yorkshire PGA professional John Oates has his eyes on a return to Bahrain in the Gulf Air PGA Pro-Captain International Challenge, supported by BMW, but knows it will be difficult to produce a repeat performance.
Last year Oates, from Hallowes Golf Club in Dronfield near Sheffield, booked his place in the Grand Final with club captain John Nolan.
The pair finished seventh out of nine, eight shots behind the winners, but the trip itself was enough of a reward for Oates, with the players chauffeur-driven to and from the airport and staying in a luxury hotel in Bahrain.
"It was a tremendous week for everyone involved in it. Everyone who was there were winners," said Oates.
"I would really like to win the qualifier to get there again. "
Oates realises the odds of returning to the final are stacked against him, which is why he rated last year's champion Brian Rimmer's effort of two wins in three successive final appearances so highly.
"I played in the PGA National Pro-Am and went to that grand final twice," he said.
"You look to play well at the same time but you can't determine when you play well. You just have to take it as it comes."
Oates accepts he has a lot to live up to playing with his new captain, nine-handicapper Bill Drew, who may also find himself under some pressure - especially after the local fame progressing attracted last time.
"It puts Hallowes on the map and that is important. People were talking about it and it was good for me to do it in my first year here," said the 41-year-old, who will tee it up in the qualifier at Huddersfield next Monday, July 14.
"I'm looking forward to it. I just treat all events the same.
"You know the prize and you think 'It would be great to do that again' but sometimes you can put too much pressure on yourself."
Oates has not had the time to dedicate to his game this season, with a lot of his time taken up by coaching, but he is optimistic about their chances.
"I am playing a bit but not enough. It is only my second year at the club and I still have a few things to sort out," he said.
"It would be nice to play well but it is all about how you fit in together. You have just got to do it at the end of the day,"
"I have played a few times with Bill this year and I know he is looking forward to it. He's retired so he does play a fair bit."
Oates' closest rival last year was Manchester professional Scott Connor and his captain, Alan Bottomley, and although he is not entered this year, there are still 95 other pairs looking to book their place from a huge field.
The winners of the qualifier will book their place on a luxury trip to the Middle East at the end of the year, which begins by being chauffeur driven to the airport and includes a stay in a five-star hotel with the 36-hole final being played at the The Royal Golf Club in Bahrain.
Each of the PGA's seven regions provides one pair for the final, which is supplemented by the host club's professional and captain and the winners of an international qualifier.