• Good Good Golf loses sponsorships after a controversial ad depicting violence against women.
• Callaway Golf severs ties, citing the ad's trivialization of domestic violence.
• The PGA Tour confirms Good Good will not sponsor an upcoming event in Austin, Texas.
• Both companies issued apologies and pledged donations to support organizations against domestic violence.
• The ad, aimed to parody a horror film, faced critiques for its insensitivity and portrayal of gender violence.

Good Good Golf has come under fire following a controversial advertisement intended to promote a co-branded Callaway driver, which many perceive as trivializing violence against women. The ad showed Good Good co-founder Garrett Clark pushing golfer Alexis Miestowski to the ground while stating, "Do not touch my new driver," which has drawn widespread condemnation. In the wake of the backlash, Good Good announced that it would no longer sponsor an upcoming PGA Tour event in Austin, Texas, this fall, stating, “We recognize that we have work to do as an organization” according to latimes.

Following the uproar over the video—a 60-second clip released on August 21—Callaway Golf decided to cut all ties with Good Good. This decision comes as both companies faced significant pressure after receiving negative feedback on the portrayal of gender violence in the ad. Callaway's CEO Chip Brewer stated, “Mistakes were made," emphasizing the need for a more thorough vetting process. The firm also committed to donating $1 million to support organizations aimed at preventing violence against women, highlighting the seriousness of their misstep according to reuters and cbsnews.

The fallout extended to the PGA Tour, which confirmed that Good Good's withdrawal from the sponsorship of the Austin event was accepted. The Tour's statement emphasized its commitment to creating a welcoming environment in golf and expressed agreement with Good Good's decision to take a step back. They intend to continue the tournament as scheduled, and updates regarding sponsorship will follow later according to cbsnews.

In an attempt to address the backlash, both Good Good and Callaway issued public apologies; however, these initial responses were deemed insufficient by many. Experts have criticized both companies for not fully grasping the implications of their actions or taking ownership of their roles in approving the content. “This is another example of creating content with a narrow view,” crisis communications expert Patrick Riccards noted, underscoring the failure to consider the broader impact of the ad according to reuters and latimes.

Good Good co-founder Garrett Clark has since expressed regret for his involvement in the production of the ad, calling it "the worst ad known to man" and reaffirming his stance against any form of domestic violence. This incident reflects a significant misalignment between the companies' branding initiatives and societal-sensitive issues, leading to a reassessment of their marketing strategies and corporate responsibilities according to cbsnews.