Good Good Golf co-founder responds to backlash over controversial ad

Last week, Good Good Golf released an ad spot for its co-branded Callaway driver. In it, Good Good co-founder Garrett Clark tackles a woman who dared reach for his driver, stands over her, and says, “Do not touch my new driver.”

After swift and intense backlash, the ad was deleted, but not before several people preserved it on the internet.

“We posted a video to our channels that ultimately depicted actions that are not aligned with our values as a brand,” Good Good Golf, a YouTube phenomenon-turned brand, said in an official statement posted Saturday. “We have since taken that content down, and sincerely apologize. Good Good has always stood for making the game of golf more inclusive to all, and we will continue to ensure that is our mission moving forward.”

Callaway Golf CEO Chip Brewer and Good Good CEO Matt Kendrick also released separate statements, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Those statements did not stop the avalanche. PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp condemned the ad and Good Good’s “disappointing” and “defensive” response. Golf Channel postponed the premiere of its Big Break x Good Good reality show. Dick’s Sporting Goods and Galaxy Golf reportedly pulled Good Good merchandise from stores.

So, on Wednesday night, Garrett Clark posted an eight-minute apology and explanation to X (formerly Twitter).

pic.twitter.com/mpFFRvUedE

— Garrett Clark (@gm__golf) August 26, 2026

“I want to first start by saying I personally want to apologize for playing the role in this skit, in this ad, at the magnitude that I did,” Clark said. “And then, on Good Good’s behalf, on [the] Good Good marketing team’s behalf, I wanted to say an apology as well because this is not at all what we stand for.

“The way that this ad was received is not how Good Good is, and it’s not what we stand for. I want everyone to know that. I do not support DV [domestic violence] or abuse or any of that of any kind.”

From there, Clark explained how the ad materialized. He said that the Good Good marketing team conceptualized the idea “to create or do a spinoff of the movie Obsession.”

The full Good Good driver video was actually 60 seconds long, and it seems like it was meant to be some sort of horror-movie spoof? It’s still viewable in some posts. (Here’s most of it:) pic.twitter.com/UBhUmKBQZY

— Stina Sternberg (@StinaSternberg) August 24, 2026

“Garrett is going to be obsessed with his driver, and anybody who touches Garrett’s driver will become possessed with the obsession of the driver,” Clark said of the original ad pitch. “Looking back, super dumb ad concept. Terrible ad in general. Not the greatest idea.”

Clark clarified that he “didn’t actually tackle Alexis” on set and played a behind-the-scenes clip showing him avoiding contact with her. “I know most people probably knew that it was a complete skit and that I didn’t actually tackle a woman,” he said. “So I want to say that first. I never would, and I didn’t.”

Clark walked through more behind-the-scenes footage and shared what happened while shooting.

“Once I watched it back and it got posted, my skin was crawling. I was cringing,” Clark said, noting, “I thought it was the worst ad known to man.”

Clark moved on to assert that “the hate that this ad and this skit received was […] very justified.” He reemphasized that the last thing he wants is for people to associate Good Good Golf with domestic violence and abuse.

There is a real chance Good Good does not survive this.

Unthinkable a week ago. A true powerhouse brand amongst the younger generation. https://t.co/eYpFe1N3n1

— Rick Golfs (@Top100Rick) August 26, 2026

Clark specifically defended Alexis, his co-star, against “hate” and vitriol, showing some of the DMs and comments she’s received. He asked to direct all backlash toward Good Good Golf, not her. Then, he finished by acknowledging “Good Good messed up by promoting a very poor taste ad” and trying to spin this catastrophe forward.

“Good Good has had a mission since day one to grow the game of golf, and not just within the male side of golf,” Clark said. “There have been a lot of points that have been made that I believe are actually very, very valid points. I feel like this video has almost spurred important conversations that need to be had. […] Golf has historically and is a big male sport, and we have wanted to change that by including women in all of our content and pushing our women’s side of the game in hopes to grow the game of golf.”

“Hopefully, you guys can forgive Good Good as well as myself for being apart of it,” Clark added. “Hopefully, we can move on and grow the women’s side of golf because that is one of our huge, huge goals.”

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