Good Good Golf CEO and President Ousted After Controversial Callaway Ad

Executive Departures and Interim Leadership at Good Good Golf

Chief Executive Officer Matt Kendrick and President Joe Flannery have left Good Good Golf in the wake of the ad debacle, according to multiple reports. Business Insider first reported the executive exits via an internal memo. Following their departures, Good Good co-founder Nahid Giga stepped into the role of interim chief executive officer. The management shakeup extends beyond the executive suite. Jeffrey Lefkovits, Good Good’s vice president of brand and marketing, also departed the company. On the manufacturing side, Alex Upegui, Callaway’s director of content and production, exited his role following the controversy.

The Controversial Advertisement and Immediate Backlash

The backlash centered on an August 20, 2024, video produced for a co-branded driver featuring Callaway branding. The clip showed Good Good co-founder Garrett Clark knocking brand influencer Alexis Miestowski—a former Division I golfer—over and telling her not to touch the club, according to the Associated Press. Good Good stated that the video was intended as a parody of the horror movie “Obsession,” according to the Associated Press. However, public criticism was immediate and relentless. The company deleted the video on August 21, 2024, one day after publication, but the footage continued to circulate widely on social media platforms. Garrett Clark later addressed the controversy in an eight-minute video, calling the commercial “the worst ad known to man” and “not what we stand for,” according to the Associated Press.

Sponsors and Retail Partners Sever Ties

Corporate partners moved quickly to distance themselves from the brand. Good Good stepped down as the title sponsor for the PGA Tour’s upcoming Good Good Championship in Austin, Texas, scheduled for November 12 to 15, 2024, though the PGA Tour confirmed the tournament would still take place. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp stated last week that tour officials were “disappointed with what we saw,” adding that the tour believes in golf’s ability to create a welcoming environment, according to the Associated Press. Retailers including Golf Galaxy and its parent company, Dick’s Sporting Goods, removed Good Good merchandise from their shelves, while the Golf Channel canceled a new season of its “Big Break” reality series that had partnered with Good Good, as reported by the Associated Press.

Broader Industry Context in Women’s Golf

The controversy occurred as women represent one of the fastest-growing participant groups in the sport. The National Golf Foundation reported in May that the number of female on-course golfers rose 45 percent from 2020 to 2025, prompting brands across the industry to invest in women’s golf apparel and initiatives.