James Watt traded the life of a professional golfer to sell personal and commercial insurance on a full-time basis. Though his office is in Stockton, Watt was born and raised and resides in Lodi. (Marc Lutz/News-Sentinel)

Hole life policy

Golfer James Watt finds life in Lodi and insurance a driving force

In 1993, James Watt took the Lodi High School Golf Team to the Northern California Championship — and then won it. Life seemed like it would be a hole-in-one after that. However, life has a funny way of handing every golfer a slice when they least expect it.

Fifteen years later, Watt finds himself in a completely different world: Selling insurance.

Watt stopped hitting the links as a professional golfer in June of 2004.

"It was a situation where I had to get my ego out of the way and realize I wasn't good enough to play with the big boys," Watt said in his Stockton office of Truex Insurance Agency.

Once Watt decided that the life of a professional golfer wasn't his driving ambition, he started talking to people whom he respected. He was advised to become a pharmaceutical representative. He decided it would be a good move.

Move he did. Watt was one day away from taking a job offer from GlaxoSmithKline, an international pharmaceutical company, when he was approached by his friend Glen Albaugh.

Albaugh suggested Watt talk to his friend Jeff Tokunaga, who is one of the four owners of Truex Insurance.

"I had a 20 minute interview with Jeff, and I realized these were people I wanted to work with," Watt said. He started working there in August 2004.

Though he would be making half as much as he would being a pharmaceutical rep, Watt wouldn't have to travel on a daily basis. In fact, he admits, he grew tired of traveling while on the golf circuit. Being able to return home to Lodi every night is a priority to Watt.

Recently, Watt earned the professional designation of Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, or CPCU.

"The CPCU is the equivalent of a masters degree in commercial insurance," Watt said. "It's the highest designation you can get."

Watt spent over two years taking 10 courses and preparing for exams to earn the designation.

After four years of brokering personal and commercial insurance, Watt says he's still very organized and has to understand everything he's doing; in short, he needs answers so he can be the best at what he does.

He sees a connection from his life on the golf course and his life behind a desk.

"I'm very competitive. I'm not afraid of getting a 'no' response. I'm educated, I'm honest and I'm hard working." All traits, Watt said, are beneficial in golf and insurance.

Even though Watt plans to be a part of Truex Insurance for another 25 years, he's still very much an avid golfer.

The United States Golf Association granted Watt his amateur status a year ago, allowing him to participate in several competitions, such as the U.S. Amateur Championship and the U.S. Pub Links Championship, as well as others.

But he remains committed to his day job.

"Golf is a weekend thing. I'll take vacation for the competitions," Watt said.

Contact Business Editor Marc Lutz at marcl@lodinews.com.