Texas golf CEO says Callaway approved controversial ad, then blamed his company

Good Good Golf founder Garrett Clark and CEO Matt Kendrick walk on the 16th green during the 2025 Tour Championship Creator Classic. (Ben Jared/PGA TOUR) The CEO of Good Good Golf, a popular YouTube channel and golf digital media company based in Texas, is leaving open the possibility of legal action. They feel the brand has been unfairly thrown under the bus after the launch of a controversial ad that went viral and sparked outrage.

>On Tuesday, Good Good Golf received massive backlash over a commercial displaying a woman being shoved to the ground by a man after trying to pull a driver out of his golf bag. The video, produced in collaboration with Callaway Golf-the global golf equipment and apparel company, was taken down across all platforms after sparking backlash on social media and within the golf community.

>RELATED: Texas-based Good Good Golf lose major partners as controversial ad sparks outrage

>Callaway Golf released a statement stating its relationship with Good Good Golf was over on Thursday amid fallout from the Frisco-based brand's controversial ad. Callaway also announced a $1 million donation to organizations working to prevent violence against women.

Did Callaway approve the controversial Good Good Golf ad?Good Good Golf CEO Matt Kendrick took exception to Callaway's moves, calling them out on social media for what he deemed a "coordinated media blitz."

>"Interesting that @CallawayGolf asks us to make an ad, then approves it, then asks us to take the fall," Kendrick said on X. "Then drops us in a coordinated media blitz and covers it up by giving a million dollars away, thinking everyone will be ok with it."

Interesting that @CallawayGolf asks us to make an ad then approves it then asks us to take the fall then drops us in a coordinated media blitz and covers it up by giving a million dollars away thinking everyone will be ok with it. 30 for 39 will be legendary.

- mattkendrick (@mattkendrick) August 28, 2026In its statement, Callaway acknowledged approving the advertisement and accepted responsibility for failures in its review process.

>"Our content review process was not comprehensive enough," the statement from Callaway reads. "We have taken appropriate internal corrective actions and significantly strengthened our approval procedures to help ensure this does not happen again."

Callaway Golf acknowledged its approval of the controversial ad and accepted responsibility for failures in its review process.   (CLIFF HAWKINS/Getty Images) In a since-deleted post, a commenter replying to Kendrick said that Good Good should sue Callaway since they greenlit the ad before it ran.

>"Not opposed," Kendrick replied.

🚨🏌️🎥 #NEW - Good Good Golf CEO @mattkendrick SLAMS Callaway Golf in a series of early morning posts on X.

"Interesting that Callaway Golf asks us to make an ad then approves it then asks us to take the fall then drops us in a coordinated media blitz and covers it up by giving… pic.twitter.com/djskIF2Ggk

- NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) August 28, 2026In a different since-deleted reply, Kendrick agreed with a commenter who accused Callaway of setting up Good Good to take the blame.

>Good Good Golf's relationship with Callaway dates back to 2023 influencer deals and has expanded to collaborations on various golf apparel. The latest collaboration was on a co-branded driver release, accompanied by the minute-long advertisement featuring Good Good's founder, Garrett Clark. In the ad, Clark shoves former Indiana Hoosiers golfer Alexis Miestowski to the ground as she attempts to grab his golf club out of the bag.

>"Do not touch my new driver," Clark tells Miestowski in the commercial.

>Per a statement from Good Good, the spot was meant to spoof the movie "Obsession."

Which partners have cut ties with Good Good Golf?The fallout from Good Good has spiraled since the controversial ad, as the PGA Tour and Good Good Golf agreed to end the brand's sponsorship of the FedEx Cup Fall event in Austin this November.

>"The PGA Tour has been informed of Good Good Golf's decision to step away as a sponsor of the event in Austin, Texas, this fall," the organization wrote in a statement. "We agree with their decision to use this time to focus on their organization and the work ahead. The PGA Tour believes in golf's ability to bring people together and create a welcoming environment for all."

Garrett Clark of Good Good Golf was a part of the controversial ad promoting a new co-branded driver with Callaway Golf.  (Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR) On Wednesday, Dick's Sporting Goods and its subsidiary, Golf Galaxy, pulled Good Good merchandise from their stores. Additionally, Front Office Sports reports Good Good apparel has been pulled from the PGA Tour Superstore.

>Finally, The Golf Channel has canceled the return of its reality competition series, "Big Break," which was in collaboration with Good Good, the show's presenting sponsor. Golf Galaxy requested that its branding be removed from the program.

Good Good Golf garners support amid backlashOf note, it's clear that supporters have rallied for Good Good Golf in the form of right-wing and conservative influencers and personalities. Barstool Sports' Big Cat, one of the brand's biggest personalities, stated he believes Good Good will come back stronger.

>Additionally, many users on social media responded to Kendrick, saying they'd made large purchases from their online store to support the brand.

>"I believe what is being done to Good Good Golf is absurd, so my family & I made a bulk order of merch," wrote Outkick's Jon Root in response to Kendrick. "Cancel culture sucks. Shame on you, Callaway, PGA Tour, Dicks, Golf Galaxy, Golf Channel, Target, etc."

I believe what is being done to Good Good Golf is absurd, so my family & I made a bulk order of merch.

Cancel culture sucks.

Shame on you, Callaway, PGA Tour, Dicks, Golf Galaxy, Golf Channel, Target, etc. pic.twitter.com/62kS6Fsziq

- Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) August 28, 2026"Thank you," Kendrick replied.

>Good Good Golf's YouTube channel has seen an uptick in subscribers, climbing to 2.13 million in the last 72 hours.

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>This article originally published at Texas golf CEO says Callaway approved controversial ad, then blamed his company.