With only four teams and three regular-season matches each, the East-West Conference may have the shortest golf season around.

Of the four teams in the conference, for the first time Buckfield may well be the team to beat, and that comes in a year when the Bucks don’t even have a senior on the team.

“It’s going to come down to depth, and who can put a 3-4-5 combination behind their strongest golfers,” said Buckfield coach Ryan Wilkins.

Buckfield has that depth this year, having lost only Nick Izzi from last year’s team.

Rangeley will forfeit its fifth golfer this season with only four golfers out for the team, but junior Victor House and senior Paul Cerminara lead a group that hopes to keep the Lakers competitive in most matches.

Forest Hills is perhaps the deepest team of the four this year, while Greenville has low numbers for the first time in a few years.

“I think Buckfield may be the team this year,” said Rangeley coach Phil Oliveiri. “The power and numbers seem to have shifted south.”