Good Good Golf co-founder Garrett Clark shared a lengthy video to his personal social media accounts late Wednesday addressing the controversy that has swirled around the company since it posted (and quickly deleted) an ad for its new co-branded driver with Callaway last Friday.
The promotion depicted Clark running and shoving fellow Good Good talent Alexis Miestowski to the ground as she reached for the club out of his bag. Standing above Miestowski as she lay on her back, Clark threateningly says, “Do not touch my new driver.” Online backlash ensued immediately, with many describing the ad as confusing, scary, and endorsing violence against women. The condemnation reached the highest levels of golf, with even PGA Tour CEOBrian Rolapp criticizing the ad and the company’s slow-footed response.
“I want to personally apologize for playing a role in the skit in this ad at the magnitude that I did,” Clark said in the video post Wednesday night. “And on Good Good’s behalf, on Good Good marketing’s behalf, I want to apologize as well because how this ad was received is not at all what we stand for. Also, I do not support [domestic violence], abuse, or any of that of any kind.”
In recent days, the fallout has rapidly escalated. On Tuesday, Golf Channel postponed the premiere of a new show with the YouTube-native brand—set to be called Big Break x Good Good—by a week after a sponsor dropped out, and Callaway announced it was investigating how the ad was approved by its team. On Wednesday, several major retailers including Dick’s Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, PGA Tour Superstore, and Target pulled Good Good merchandise from their in-store and online shelves.
