Callaway Golf and its Frisco partner Good Good Golf issued public apologies on August 25 after a promotional video for the new Callaway Quantum driver showed a male golfer forcefully shoving a female golfer to the ground. The staged clip, posted by Good Good on its social channels on August 21, drew swift criticism for portraying violence against a woman as a marketing gimmick.
What the video depicted
The short video featured Good Good co‑founder Garrett Clark running toward former Division I golfer and content creator Alexis Miestowski as she reached into his golf bag. Clark shoved Miestowski to the ground, stood over her and warned, “Do not touch my new driver.” The clip ended with the phrase “You have been warned…” beneath the Callaway logo.
Company responses
Callaway CEO Chip Brewer confirmed that Callaway had approved the video before it was released and said the approval “should never have happened.” He described the incident as a mistake and pledged a thorough internal and external investigation. Good Good CEO Matt Kendrick said the concept was meant to parody a scene from the 2026 horror film “Obsession,” but acknowledged that “the execution missed the mark.” Kendrick added that Good Good would donate proceeds from the driver campaign to a local organization that supports women.
Impact on marketing and sponsorships
Following the backlash, Good Good removed the video and the Quantum driver listing was taken down from Callaway’s website, though neither company confirmed whether the product would be permanently withdrawn. The PGA Tour, which lists Good Good as the title sponsor of the inaugural Good Good Championship scheduled for November in Austin, issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to a welcoming environment and stating that it does not condone violence in any form. The Tour has not announced any change to the sponsorship.
Broader context
The incident joins a series of recent brand missteps where companies withdrew advertisements after public outcry. Notable examples include Pepsi’s 2017 commercial that was criticized for trivializing protests, Hyundai’s 2013 European ad that depicted a failed suicide attempt, and McDonald’s 2017 UK spot that used a grieving child’s story to sell a sandwich. Each case prompted apologies and removal of the offending material.
Local relevance
Both Callaway and Good Good are headquartered in the Dallas‑Fort Worth metroplex, with Good Good operating out of Frisco. Their response underscores the importance of careful content review for companies that serve the local community and sponsor regional events such as the upcoming Good Good Championship in Austin.
As the investigations continue, the companies say they will tighten their review processes to prevent similar incidents and restore confidence among golfers, sponsors, and the broader public.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
