South African golfer Christiaan Bezuidenhout is gaining recognition not only for his skills on the golf course but also for his advocacy work surrounding stuttering. After accidentally ingesting rat poison as a child, he developed a stutter, which influenced his preference for the solitary sport of golf over team activities. Finding solace and focus through golf, Bezuidenhout credits his mentor, fellow South African and golfing legend Ernie Els, for guiding his development into a professional athlete. Now, he leverages his platform to raise awareness and support for people who stutter.

Bezuidenhout serves as a spokesperson for the Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research, an organization dedicated to helping individuals communicate confidently without focusing on their stutter. He emphasizes the center’s approach, which encourages embracing one’s way of speaking rather than striving for flawless fluency. To further his advocacy, Bezuidenhout will host the Dream. Speak. Live. Blank Center Celebrity Golf Tournament on October 12 in Georgia, an event that has previously generated hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund global stuttering education and research initiatives.

The partnership between Bezuidenhout and Arthur M. Blank, co-founder of Home Depot and owner of the Atlanta Falcons, extends beyond stuttering advocacy into youth golf and education programs. The Blank Family Foundation has committed $7.6 million to provide scholarships for the PGA Jr. League and to expand access to the First Tee golf programs across the U.S. They are also collaborating with Tiger Woods’ TGR Foundation, which recently received a $20 million grant to open a TGR Learning Lab in Atlanta that promotes STEAM education, health, and career readiness for young people.

Blank’s philanthropic efforts reflect his deep commitment to Atlanta, sports, education, and charitable giving, having pledged over half of his wealth to causes via The Giving Pledge. For Bezuidenhout, the collaboration represents a full-circle moment; growing up in South Africa without resources for his condition, he now helps lead efforts to educate others and provide support. Plans include launching the first stuttering awareness camp in South Africa next month, with hopes to inspire individuals worldwide through his journey of overcoming adversity on and off the golf course.