The day golf filmmaker Erik Anders Lang bonded with wounded vets

Apr 29, 2020 3:49 PM PDT

1 minute read

SUMMARY

He’s a golfer, a filmmaker, a podcaster, and he has no problem swearing (which makes him cool in my book). There are worse people to hit 18 holes with. When he set out to play at

He's a golfer, a filmmaker, a podcaster, and he has no problem swearing (which makes him cool in my book). There are worse people to hit 18 holes with.

When he set out to play at Rob Riggle's InVETational Golf Classic, he was in for a different type of game. This one had a little more meaning as his team consisted of a couple of wounded warriors from Semper Fi Fund, a charity dedicated to supporting critically ill and catastrophically wounded service members and their families.

Playing Golf w Inspiring Vets at Rob Riggle's InVETational

Lang's teammates included 1st Sgt. Michael Barrett (U.S. Marines) and Sgt. Saul Martinez (U.S. Army Retired) — and they were cracking jokes before the first shot of the day. After the opening ceremony, hosted by U.S. Marine Rob Riggle himself, they were off, meeting up with 4-time long drive champion Frank Miller, sharing some wisdom, and, sadly, not winning a trip to Pebble Beach. But they were not winning in style.

I was there that day, and I have to say, it was refreshing to watch Lang's experience of the event. I was working for We Are The Mighty, capturing footage, sharing the event on social media, and acting as MC for the awards ceremony in the evening.

In other words, I was working, so I didn't get to see what it was like for everyone who came out to support Semper Fi Fund.

Lang's video showed that the InVETational did exactly what we'd hoped it would do: raise money for a great cause, get people out of the house and into their bodies, and cross that military-civilian divide.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq83mO5lPjL/?utm_source=ig_share_sheetigshid=1wv0y6big2ec7

Lang's dedication was more proof that Riggle's tournament was a success: "This video is dedicated to those who have served. Please take a moment to experience the feeling of gratitude towards the men and women that have served in your country, whatever country that may be. No matter our differences, political, societal, or geographical, we all have golf."

Check out the video to see these vets describe what golf means to them, especially after their injuries, and keep an eye out for the 2019 InVETational because it just keeps getting better.