The CEO and president of Good Good Golf have resigned following widespread criticism of a co-branded advertisement with Callaway Golf that critics called sexist and trivializing violence against women.
Good Good Golf CEO Matt Kendrick and President Joe Flannery stepped down on Wednesday, according to an internal company email shared with CBS News. Nahid Giga, a co-founder and early investor, will serve as interim CEO, effective immediately, per the Sept. 2 memo from Chief Financial Officer Alex Puchala.
The departures follow the rapid fallout from a Callaway Golf ad that depicted a male golfer shoving a female golfer to the ground when she attempted to use his driver. The ad, which Good Good described as a parody of the horror movie Obsession, was quickly removed after public backlash. Both companies issued apologies for the content.
Callaway ended its three-year partnership with Good Good, and the digital media company also stepped back from sponsoring a PGA Tour event scheduled for this fall. Retailers pulled Good Good apparel from shelves in response to the controversy.
In a social media post on Aug. 28, Kendrick alleged that Callaway had "asked us to take the fall and then drops us in a coordinated media blitz," though Callaway has not publicly addressed this claim. Callaway Golf CEO Chip Brewer stated in a company statement that the "content review process was not comprehensive enough" and that the company had taken "appropriate internal corrective actions."
Leadership Changes and Internal Response
Good Good’s memo, attributed to Puchala, described the day as "difficult" and praised Kendrick’s role in building the company. "Matt helped build something extraordinary that exceeded all expectations and continues to bring countless new fans to the sport," Puchala wrote. Garrett Clark, a co-founder who portrayed the male golfer in the ad, will remain with the company, per the memo.
Joe Flannery, who had been appointed president days before the ad’s release, also stepped down. The memo did not specify the duration of his tenure.
Ad Content and Immediate Fallout
The ad showed Good Good co-founder Garrett Clark running toward another co-founder, Alexis Miestowski, pushing her to the ground while saying, "Do not touch my new driver," before hitting a shot with the club. The video was widely criticized for normalizing violence against women, despite Good Good’s claim that it was intended as parody.
In response, Good Good terminated its marketing head, Jeff Lefkovits, and another marketing team member. Callaway’s content head also departed, according to reports. The companies issued joint and separate apologies, acknowledging the ad’s content was inappropriate.
Company Background and Broader Impact
Good Good Golf, a popular YouTube channel and golf apparel brand, had established retail partnerships and raised $45 million in funding last year. The company’s high-energy golf videos had cultivated a growing global community. The controversy marks a significant reversal for the brand, which had been viewed as a success story in the creator economy.
The PGA Tour event sponsorship withdrawal and retailer pullouts reflect the commercial consequences of the backlash. Good Good has not indicated whether it plans to continue its partnership with Callaway or pursue other sponsorship opportunities in the near term.