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Wet conditions affecting sports

Due to the record amounts of rainfall this year, many outdoor sports have had difficulties finding time to play. Soccer, baseball and golf are three sports that have been majorly affected by the wet conditions.
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The wet weather has forced the Humboldt Golf Course to restrict the use of carts on the course, as it has on many other courses in the area.

Due to the record amounts of rainfall this year, many outdoor sports have had difficulties finding time to play.

Soccer, baseball and golf are three sports that have been majorly affected by the wet conditions.

The golf course, ball diamonds and soccer fields have all seen an unusual amount of water this year.

The large amount of water has affected both ball and soccer seasons this year.

The Humboldt AAA Midget baseball team has not played for over five weeks.

They have been looking for diamonds to play outside of the city.

Girls softball has not had much better luck. They finished their season the weekend of June 19.

The girls only played around 50 per cent of their games this season, said Trent Ries, one of the girls' softball league volunteers.

This year's season was worse than last year's, which surprised the girls' league.

"I've had a couple requests to change the season to the fall," said Ries.

Ries said they are unable to make up any games.

"Once the kids are out of school it's done," said Ries.

The Humboldt and District Soccer Association (HDSA) has not had much luck this year either.

The three fields the soccer association has to play on have all been water logged.

"There (are) puddles on the fields," said Kelly Gibney, president of HDSA.

On the weekend of June 12, there was so much water on the field at Glenn Hall Park, the city shut down the park.

"The Under 14's Mini Fest was supposed to be held then," said Gibney.

They have not had a chance to make up very many of the games they missed this spring.

"There's just not enough field space," said Gibney.

"(We) talked about Muenster, but then we would have to move the nets."

Gibney said there is not much point trying to move the nets now, as the season will be ending soon, plus it is exam time and the players do not have enough free time to play.

Another reason the older players were not able to make up games was because of the field they play on, said Gibney.

The older players chew up the field when they are playing.

Gibney said he didn't want the soccer association to completely destroy the fields as they have to share them with the high school teams.

As well, the golf courses in and around Humboldt have been seeing a drop in numbers this year, due to the high amounts of rainfall.

"If we average 10 golfers a day, we are doing good (this year)," said Marilyn Miller from the Lanigan Golf and Country Club.

"Our men's nights have been pretty slow... our women's night has been non-existent.

Due to the record rainfall, the golf courses, like the ball diamonds and soccer fields, are water logged.

"They have been mowing the fairways. Sometimes they have to leave some spots," said Miller.

"Generally they've been doing not bad on the fairways. But there is a fair amount of water on each hole."

Lanigan is not the only course with water on the fairways. All the courses in the area are having problems with water on the fairways.

"There's lots (of water) on the fairways and on the rough," said Carol Haussecker from McNab Regional Park in Watson.

The back nine holes at the Humboldt Golf Club are also sloppy and the bush is full of water.

"They've been pumping like crazy out here, trying to get rid of it," said Mike Angelstad from the Humboldt Golf Club.

None of the golf courses in the area have closed, but the majority of them are not allowing carts on the fairways.

"We have all 18 open, but right now... we have carts only on the front nine," said Angelstad.

It's not all doom and gloom for the golf courses. Since they have the rest of the summer to make up for a rainy spring, they are trying to keep a positive attitude.

"(On the plus side) the greens are beautiful this year," said Sarah Creurer from St. Brieux Golf Club.

She has received many compliments on the greens this year.

"If you can survive a little bit of water down the fairways there are some nice results at the end," said Creurer.

Maggie Hamilton from LeRoy Leisureland, said she is impressed with the number of people who have been coming out this year.

"There were three big tournaments we had and people came anyway, which was great," said Hamilton.

Even Angelstad has kept a positive attitude amidst all the problems the Humboldt Golf Club has dealt with this year because of the wet conditions.

"If we have a good July this year, we should be fine," said Angelstad.