Callaway severs ties with golf brand after controversial ad sparks outrage

Fallout from a golf commercial described as “the worst ad known to man” continued Thursday when Callaway, one of the sport’s largest makers of equipment, announced it had cut ties with Good Good Golf, the brand it had partnered with for the past three years before their joint ad sparked controversy. Callaway said it would also commit $1 million to organizations that work to prevent violence against women. “These actions do not undo the harm caused or our role in it,” Callaway said. “We sincerely apologize to everyone who was hurt, disappointed, or offended by this incident.” Intended to promote Callaway and Good Good’s collaboration on its Quantum Driver, the commercial instead immediately drew criticism for appearing to promote violence against women. In the commercial, Good Good co-founder Garrett Clark is seen rushing over to his golf bag and pushing over golfer Alexis Miestowski to keep her from grabbing the Quantum Driver. “Do not touch by new driver,” Clark said to Miestowski while standing over her. On X Wednesday Clark posted a nearly 9-minute apology in which he called the ad “the worst ad known to man,” as well as a “super dumb ad concept, terrible ad in general.” He attempted to contextualize the ad’s concept, saying it was intended to riff on “Obsession,” the summer movie mega-hit. Clark also criticized those who he said had sent Miestowski abuse online. “I do sincerely apologize for playing the role that I did in that ad and I want you guys to know that I, in no way, shape, or form, support DV, abuse, or anything of the sort,” Clark said. Producing audience-grabbing videos was how Good Good quickly ascended to become one of golf’s up-and-coming brands among younger fans since its founding as a YouTube channel in 2020. It delved into apparel, with its eye-catching hat designs carried in mega-stores like Golf Galaxy and the PGA Tour Superstore. According to the company, its growth was aided by raising $45 million from outside investors that include Omaha Productions, the company co-founded by former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and television executive Jamie Horowitz. Good Good began partnering with Callaway in 2023. Yet none of Good Good’s content had ever gone viral, or caught on beyond strictly a golf audience, like the commercial and the mainstream criticism it drew. “While the video was produced by Good Good, it was approved by Callaway prior to posting,” Callaway CEO Chip Brewer said in a statement Monday. But Callaway and Good Good’s initial statements did little to quell the blowback. Though Callaway’s stock price is up 33% this year, it has fallen amid the controversy from a high of 19.66 in mid-July to 15.60 Thursday afternoon. As PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp called Good Good’s first attempt at an apology “a bit defensive and late” Wednesday, retailers including Golf Galaxy, Dick’s Sporting Goods and the PGA Tour Superstore began to pull Good Good items off shelves this week, Front Office Sports reported. The PGA Tour is in business with Good Good, as well. The company is the title sponsor of the Good Good Championship set to be played Nov. 9-15 in Austin, Texas. [Image text:] allaway GOLF