Callaway Severs Ties With Good Good After Controversial Ad

Callaway Golf has completely severed its partnership with Good Good Golf and pledged $1 million to organizations combating violence against women, following days of backlash over an advertisement that showed one of Good Good's co-founders shoving a female colleague to the ground.

The controversy began when Callaway and Good Good released a 60-second commercial promoting their co-branded Callaway Quantum driver. In the ad, Good Good co-founder Garrett Clark shoved fellow Good Good creator Alexis Miestowski to the ground after she reached toward a driver in his golf bag, then stood over her and said, "Do not touch my new driver." The clip drew immediate and intense backlash once clips began circulating on social media over the weekend, and both companies pulled the ad down within roughly 24 hours of it going live.

How Both Companies Initially Responded

Good Good issued a brief statement shortly after removing the ad, saying, "We posted a video to our channels that ultimately depicted actions that are not aligned with our values as a brand. We have since taken that content down and sincerely apologize." The company added that it has "always stood for making the game of golf more inclusive to all."

Callaway's initial response drew its own criticism for being slow and insufficiently direct. CEO Chip Brewer eventually posted a statement around 1 a.m. ET the following Tuesday, acknowledging that Callaway had approved the ad before it aired. "As we deal with the consequences of our mistake and complete our investigations, I want to make it clear that we sincerely apologize for the video," Brewer wrote. "The content was inappropriate and does not reflect our values. To be clear: We are unequivocally against discrimination, domestic violence, or threatening behavior of any kind."

Clark's Apology and Explanation

Good Good co-founder Garrett Clark posted an eight-and-a-half-minute apology video days later, personally apologizing for his role in the ad and for what he described as the "magnitude" at which he played it.

Clark said the concept had been intended to emulate the movie "Obsession," framing the driver itself as an object that could take possession of anyone who touched it, and noted that a second part of the ad, not included in the final cut, showed him separately warning another Good Good team member not to touch the driver either. His apology did not stop the fallout that followed.

Why Callaway Cut Ties Completely

Hours after Clark's apology video, Callaway announced it had completed its internal review and was ending its relationship with Good Good, effective immediately. In its statement, Callaway said, "Over the last several days, we have listened and reflected deeply on the hurt and disappointment caused by the video we reposted. We heard from individuals who shared personal experiences related to violence against women, and their stories were powerful reminders that this issue touches the lives of far too many people."

The statement continued, "Unequivocally, violence against women is unacceptable and should never be trivialized, normalized, or used as entertainment," adding, "These actions do not undo the harm caused or excuse our role in it. We sincerely apologize to everyone who was hurt, disappointed, or offended by this incident."

Alongside ending the partnership, Callaway said it was strengthening its internal content approval processes and committing $1 million to organizations working to prevent violence against women, support survivors and advance related education and awareness efforts.

The PGA Tour Gets Pulled Into the Controversy

The fallout extended beyond Callaway and Good Good. Good Good is the title sponsor of the PGA Tour's upcoming Good Good Championship, scheduled for Nov. 12-15 at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas, an event designed to bridge traditional professional golf with the world of golf content creators.

PGA Tour Commissioner Brian Rolapp addressed the controversy directly at the Tour Championship, saying, "I think what we saw was concerning, and is clearly not aligned with PGA Tour values." He added, "We take it very seriously. I think their initial response was disappointing. It was a bit defensive and late."

Separately, the Golf Channel postponed the return of its "Big Break" series amid the controversy after a sponsor pulled out of the show. Jamie Klingler, co-founder of the women's rights advocacy group Reclaim These Streets, publicly called for the PGA Tour to cut ties with Good Good entirely over the incident, adding to pressure on the Tour regarding its sponsorship relationship with the brand heading into the November event.

Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.