We would like to spotlight Carol Sabotka who moved to the desert in 2005 from Federal Way, Washington. She spends part of the year here and the remainder of the year back in Washington, where her two children—a son and a daughter—live just ten minutes away.
During her working years, Carol wore many hats. She worked as an Avon representative and later attended college, earning her teaching degree. Due to an oversupply of teachers in her area, she worked as a substitute teacher. In 1972, Carol and her husband started a business called Gourmet Coffee, delivering coffee throughout the region from 1972 until 1989.
If you know Carol, you undoubtedly know Sugar, her beloved service dog. Sugar was named after Edwin “Sugar” Díaz of the Seattle Mariners. His grandmother first called him Sugar, and fans quickly adopted the nickname. With Carol’s love of baseball, it’s only fitting that her service dog carries the name of a baseball favorite.
You might be surprised to learn that Carol participates in some type of activity every single day. She joined Lady Putters in 2005. She is somewhat outgoing, but selective about letting people get close—so if she lets you in, consider yourself lucky. Sugar, on the other hand, has quite the fan club of her own.
Carol and Sugar even have a bench on the course with their names on it, which Carol purchased last season—a lasting tribute to a special partnership.
