Christiaan answers some of the more common questions and misconceptions about stuttering.

1. Please tell us a little bit about your work with the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and the “Dream.Speak.Live.” initiative. How and in what projects have you been involved thus far?
“This is a dream partnership for me and I’m so grateful that Mr Blank has given me this opportunity. As people will know, I’ve been affected by a stutter all my life. Back in the day, we never had any education about stuttering or how to deal with it. But we know so much more now. The work that Dr Byrd and her team are doing at the foundation is inspiring and I’m happy to be getting involved in various events. I love the ‘Dream, Speak, Live’ slogan and what it stands for. I even have the words stamped on my Callaway wedges. My wife Kristen is heavily involved too. The amount of work she puts into the foundation to help kids and adults with their communication skills and confidence is amazing. I’m so proud of her.”

2. Based on your personal experience, why do you think the work of the foundation is so fundamental?
“Seriously, what the foundation is doing here is life changing for these kids. I know from my own experience that stuttering can affect your confidence and hold you back, it can affect your ability to mix with other kids; it can be very isolating and that’s sad. The wonderful thing about this partnership is together we can educate people about stuttering and teach them how to handle certain situations better.”

3. You are an inspiration to so many today, how did speech impediment influence and shape your life as a child? Was “being different” a tough challenge for you, and do you think it made you stronger in the end?
“Yeah, like I said, it’s tough. Looking back, I used golf as an escape. I felt a lot of anxiety about my stutter, so the golf course became my ‘safe place’ where I could just be myself and do my thing. I guess you could say it made me stronger in the end, but you know, it was a bumpy road at times. I was lucky to have the support of my family and that meant everything to me. It still does. To all the parents out there who have a child who stutters, just be there and support them in everything they do. And to all the kids out there who stutter, I’d just say to them, Dream, Speak, Live!”

4. During your work with the foundation, have there been any moments or encounters that were particularly emotional for you?
“We visited the foundation for the first time a few years ago and that was a really nice experience. The kids were fantastic, they were so happy and so positive. We had a great time. It gave me a chance to talk to them and share my story. I remember one of the big breakthroughs for me was to accept the fact that I stuttered. I always tried to speak fluently and unfortunately that was never gonna be the case. I had to embrace the fact that I stuttered and that’s when I became more comfortable and confident. You also have to learn to concentrate on your breathing and what you want to say before you say it. Once I’d learnt that, that definitely helped me too. I think it helps the kids to hear my story, see what I’ve achieved in golf, and hopefully they feel inspired to chase their own dreams.”

5. How has playing golf shaped your life? How do you feel when you’re on the golf course?
“I guess deep down I still feel like the golf course is my safe place. I feel comfortable on the golf course, confident in what I’m doing. I enjoy putting in the hard work. And obviously it’s given me a blessed life, with my wife Kristen by my side.”

6. Is it rude to finish the sentence for the person who stutters?
“That’s a very good question. I wouldn’t say it is rude, but it helps the person who stutters with their communication if they finish their own sentences. People who stutter communicate differently with other people and just a little bit of patience can make a huge difference in the communication and confidence of that person.”

7. How has your wife and family helped in your stutter journey?
“Wow, where do I even start! My family is the reason I am the person I am today. All their support and belief in me through all these years has made me the man that I am. My wife Kristen, she only noticed my stutter weeks after we started talking and seeing each other. She has been there every step of the way the last three years. She is my best friend and believes in me more than I do myself sometimes.” 

For more information on the Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education & Research, please visit the website: https://blankcenterforstuttering.org/.