DEL MAR, Calif. — A special group of military veterans says the game of golf is saving lives. In this Zevely Zone, I met some of our nation's heroes at the Del Mar Golf Center.
The pain from war can last a lifetime, but so can the joy from the game of golf. Tony Perez has been the Farmer's Insurance Open starter for the past 39 years. He's also the father of professional golfer Pat Perez.
"I don't know if you play golf but once you hit that ball you're hooked," said Tony.
One thing you may not know about Tony is that he served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. "It was something I needed to do," said Tony about creating Operation Game On in 2008. The non-profit organization teaches the game of golf to combat-injured veterans. "Oh, it feels fantastic, I mean to me that is my therapy," said Tony.
Veterans not only receive 8 weeks of free golf lessons from a PGA Certified instructor but also a brand new bag of Taylor Made clubs.
"Yeah, they get the works," said Tony. Taylor Made professionally fits the veterans for clubs in what they call the Kingdom, the same place Tiger Woods, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy got their clubs.
"I can speak volumes about Tony and what he's done, for me alone has been a complete mind change," said Claritza Arendt who spent 18 years in the Army. She told us PTSD gets put on hold when Tony shows her how to hit that ball.
"He's such a great humble guy, he is so approachable I can go 'hey, Tony this happened' and he's just like let it go, you know what that ball and that club, that is what you have to focus on today," she said.
If you're a veteran, the General Manager at Del Mar Golf Center, Matt Clay, has an invitation for you, "Come play golf, everybody!"
That's all the former Green Beret, Jeremie Chapin needed to hear. "Now relax these muscles, pull the trigger," said Tony while giving Jeremie a few tips.
Jeremie jumped out 5,000 planes for the Army's special forces. "For me, I did 21 years in the military, so this is finding life outside as a civilian," said Jeremie who told us the military taught him how to be hostile, but now he needs to laugh. "It didn't go left, ha, ha, ha," laughed Tony as the veterans hit balls.
The free clubs come with a driver head cover that doubles as a boxing glove. The cover reads 'Operation Game On' because all of the veterans are fighters. "They are fighters," said Tony who told us the lessons and clubs may be free, but they were paid for in full on the battlefield. "They paid their dues," said Tony. "They paid for these clubs, they certainly did. They earned them."
Over the years, Tony told us two veterans in the program committed suicide, but 650 others have survived and thrived. "Parents come to me and tell me you saved my son or daughter's life, that to me is huge, I mean that is fantastic. It makes my heart skip an extra beat and we know we are doing our job," said Tony.
The mission of Operation Game On is to provide golf as a form of rehabilitation for returning combat-injured men and women Veterans suffering from severe physical and mental disabilities sustained in combat while deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
If you'd like to support 'Operation Game On' they host a golf tournament and fundraiser on August 26th at Fairbanks Ranch Country Club. For more information, click here.
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