For the first time in their history Norfolk Seniors will play in a league in 2012 against Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.

Each county will name a 12-man team playing singles matchplay (scratch) using the Myhill style of scoring, so each singles match will play all 18 holes (a total of 216 holes) with the team winning the most holes overall being the winner.

Regular county player Bernie Peet of Royal Cromer is looking forward to the new format and hopes it will make the matches far more competitive.

He said: 'We've played friendlies before but there has been nothing resting on the end result.

'We've got to try and add a bit more intensity and make the matches more meaningful.

'We want the players to become more competitive.

'The county also play in English Golf Union qualifiers and it will stand the players in good stead for these competitions too. It can only be good for Norfolk Senior Golf,' he added.

Sponsorship has been obtained and a trophy has been donated by Jon Marks, the Suffolk Captain.

Two winter squad matches have been played to date, the first at Mundesley, on a very windy day, with individual stableford off handicap being the format.

This resulted in a win for Peet (Royal Cromer) with 37 pts followed by Graham Turner (Mundesley) with 36 pts.

The second match was at Royal Cromer on a lovely winter's golf day.This time the format was a three man team with two scores to count on each hole, scratch stableford.

The winning team with a very good score of 73 pts was Simon Fuller (Royal Cromer), Tony Lount (Sheringham) and Richard Blakey (Eaton).

County organisers are planning another squad day in March, possibly a match against the ladies' team, before the season starts in earnest in April.

• Norfolk Seniors are always on the lookout for new squad members so if you are over 55 and have a handicap of seven or better please get in touch with Malcolm Carr on 01263 822623 or e mail malcolm.carr@tiscali.co.uk