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Last 7 Days

Top Blogs

• 'We'll count our blessings'

• Meet Lodi's new chief

• 'He was in the wrong place at the wrong time'

• Foundation for future: Local educators offer tips on how to help your little one

• Carnage on Highway 12 declining

• Regional Roundup

• Correction

November 20th, 2009

• Acampo woman killed

• Salvation Army Kettle Kickoff

• Advocacy groups sue East Bay Municipal Utility District over Pardee expansion

• Regional Roundup

• Galt plans to help residents with energy-efficient projects

• Stable southeast of Lodi approved

• One year after a heart attack, Lodi's Judy Mims thanks rescuers

• National Guard troops return home in time for the holidays

• Real estate market gets on more solid ground

November 19th, 2009

• Lodi Unified School District board votes to cancel summer school for 2010

• Water surges in Mokelumne River yield more salmon

• Lodi City Council will consider redevelopment next June

• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22

• Corrections

• Chase ends in crash

• Operation: Christmas

• Logbook

• Suspect arrested after hiding in fridge

• Galt Joint Union High School Distric hires new superintendent

• Sales tax hike yields dividends: 5 new officers join Galt Police

November 18th, 2009

• Regional Roundup

• Paranormal group conducts second investigation of building

• Congress allocates money for local water projects

• Lodi man finds wife's ashes during police display of stolen property

• Galt City Council rejects study on rent stabilization

• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react

November 17th, 2009

• Clarification

• Lodi Budget and Finance Committee to look into ways to save money on employee benefits

• Regional Roundup

• Decision on summer school expected at tonight's Lodi Unified School District meeting

• Clements gets free water rescue boat

• Redevelopment to be discussed by Lodi City Council again

• Court reinstates death penalty for killer of Lodi grad

• Paying tribute to a Lodian

November 16th, 2009

• Correction

• Public Meetings

• Regional Roundup

• Three members of Lodi-area family fall ill after eating poisonous mushrooms they reportedly found at Lodi Lake

• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi

• Lodi's First Sip event showcases area wineries' latest vintages

• City Council 'triple-dog dared' to ditch cars, use Lodi buses

November 14th, 2009

• Galt school district narrows superintendent search to one

• Regional Roundup

• A first look at 2009 vintages at Lodi's First Sip wine-tasting event

• Watchful neighbor in Lodi helped bust suspected burglars

• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise

• Despite an increase in homeless students, school districts look to bolster enrollment, raise revenue

• New Galt city manager juggles job, family

November 13th, 2009

• What to expect with new homebuyer tax credit

• Lodi Muslim: Local mosque not involved

• Regional Roundup

• Mayor Larry Hansen points out Lodi's economic progress

• First phase of Lockeford park by 2011?

• Lodi veteran recounts close calls in Vietnam

• Burglary suspects are under arrest

The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.

• The country's mess is our fault (151)
• Obama is not a moderate (130)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (66)
• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise (55)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (48)
• The haves should help the have-nots (30)
• Lodi Flames slim playoff chances vanish in setback to Tracy Bulldogs (25)
• Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
• Nightmares about America's future (23)
• Tokay Tigers blow late 27-point lead in loss to Wolf Pack (22)

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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.