Callaway drops Good Good Golf after viral ad backlash
Good Good Golf’s Bad Bad Week has hit a new nadir.
Callaway has split with the company after their video featuring a man knocking a woman to the ground over a Callaway driver ignited massive backlash, the golf manufacturer giant announced Thursday.
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The ending of the partnership is a massive blow to Good Good Golf and raises questions about the company’s future amid this rising negative view of the company.
“Over the last several days, we have listened and reflected deeply on the hurt and disappointment caused by the video we reposted,” Callaway said in a statement. “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. Unequivocally, violence against women is unacceptable and should never be trivialized, normalized, or used as entertainment.”
Callaway added that it’s own content review process “was not comprehensive enough,” and the company has since “strengthened” the mechanisms to ensure a repeat situation does not unfold.
The golfing brand will also commit $1 million to “support organizations working to prevent violence against women, provide resources to survivors, and advance education and awareness efforts.”
“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,” Thursday’s statement said.
“One of Callaway Golf’s core values is to be a positive influence, both in the game of golf and in our communities. We are further strengthening our commitment to these initiatives, and this will be an ongoing focus in our company. We are committed to learning from this incident and helping ensure that golf is a place where everyone feels respected, valued, and welcome.”
In the since-deleted video posted Friday, Good Good Golf co-founder Garrett Clark shoved brand influencer Alexis Miestowski while she approached a Callaway driver.
“Do not touch my new driver,” Clark said to her while she laid on the ground.
The polarizing video was meant to be a reference to the hit horror film “Obsession,” and video elicited strong backlash for showcasing a man hitting a woman.
Clark lamented the video while noting that he did not actually hit Miestowski.
“Looking back, super dumb ad concept, terrible ad in general, not the greatest idea,” he said in a video posted to social media Wednesday night.
He added: “Terrible concept, terrible ad. Once I watched it back and it got posted, my skin was crawling. I was cringing. I mean, just even minutes after I saw it get posted, before this surfaced everywhere online, I thought it was the worst ad known to man. The beginning of the ad was very intense with the way that it was pushed out there and not good, all-around not good.”
Good Good Golf — which launched in 2020 as a YouTube platform — quickly took the video down and apologized Saturday, stating the video did not align with its brand value.
Callaway CEO Chip Brewer said in a statement that Good Good Golf produced the video, but it had been approved by his company prior to posting and added that said approval “never should have happened.”
Losing Callaway is the biggest blow yet for Good Good Golf and there could be more bad news coming.
The Golf Channel already postponed Tuesday’s schedule premiere of reality show “Big Break X Good Good” for one week due to Golf Galaxy no longer wanting to be included.
Some Golf Galaxy and Dick’s Sporting Goods stories have also removed Good Good Golf products, per Front Office Sports.
There are also questions now about whether Good Good Golf will remain a title sponsor for a new PGA Tour event in Texas in the fall, with The Telegraph reporting the event is now in jeopardy.
PGA Tour CEO recently Brian Rolapp said there have been conversations and described it as a “fluid situation.”
Clark said in his video he hopes his company can be forgiven.
“Good Good messed up by supporting a very poor-taste ad that was not good in any way, shape or fashion,” he said in the eight-plus-minute video posted to social media, “but hopefully you guys can forgive Good Good as well as myself for being a part of it, and hopefully we can move on and grow the women’s side of golf, because that is one of our huge, huge goals.”
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