Golf pro and lecturer Alan Lovelace has his half-term plans sewn up as he jets off to the Middle East bidding to land a national golf title - the Gulf Air International Pro-Captain Challenge supported by BMW.
Merrist Wood College-based PGA professional Lovelace, who recently passed his foundation degree in teacher training, will be reunited with five handicapper Dan Reynolds, a student at the college.
The duo qualified for the nine-team championship with a stunning 11-under-par 60 at Effingham back in August, securing them a five day luxury trip to the final at The Royal Golf Club in Bahrain - which falls nicely with the half-term break.
Reynolds, who is captain of the college golf club and hails from Wokingham, will be the youngest player in the field at just 18 years of age when they jet off on October 26 for the Middle East kingdom along with pairings from the other six PGA regions.
Also in the field are the host club and an international qualifier from Dubai Creek, who will all be chasing the title and a share of the £7,500 professional prize fund.
The finalists will enjoy a five day luxury stay in Bahrain, which will include a 36-hole battle for the title over the recently-opened Montgomerie Course.
Royal Golf Club professional and general manager Mike Braidwood, who is competing in the event and looking to win the tournament for a second time, is relishing the competition and welcoming the competitors.
"We are looking forward to hosting this year's final on our spectacular new Colin Montgomerie designed course," he said.
"The course has really matured this year since its official opening last November and all of our other facilities are now complete. I think the competitors from the UK and Ireland will be bowled over when they see the new Royal Golf Club.
"This year's field looks one of the strongest assembled for the finals so it looks set to be an excellent week of competition."
25 October, 2009