Two senior figures at Good Good Golf have stepped down from their positions after the company faced a wave of criticism surrounding a promotional video that depicted a woman being forced to the ground. The departures of CEO Matt Kendrick and President Joe Flannery come as the fallout from the incident continues to unfold.
The video in question was released last month as part of a campaign to market a new Callaway driver. It was quickly removed after viewers and industry observers condemned it for portraying violence against women.
The backlash was swift and intense, prompting Good Good Golf to issue an apology via its social‑media channels, while Callaway Golf admitted that "mistakes were made" in the way the situation was handled. According to an internal memorandum circulated by the company’s head of finance and operations, Alex Puchala, the board has appointed Nahid Giga — a co‑founder of Good Good Golf and an early investor — to serve as interim chief executive officer. Puchala’s memo, which was shared with Business Insider, read in part: "This is a difficult day for the entire Good Good family.
Matt helped build something extraordinary that exceeded all expectations and continues to bring countless new fans to the sport. What began as a small group of friends playing golf is now a growing global community." The statement continued, "To ensure stability through this transition, Nahid Giga, Good Good co‑founder and one of our first investors, will step in as interim CEO, effective immediately.
Garrett and the creator team will keep doing what they do best, making great content and engaging our fans who are eager to see and hear from us. I will remain COO and CFO and will continue to oversee day‑to‑day operations. We're encouraged by the continued support of the Good Good community, and we remain focused on moving forward and building the next chapter of the company." Good Good Golf originated as a YouTube channel in 2020 and has since grown into one of the sport’s most influential digital media brands.
The channel features a rotating roster of eight male and four female personalities who compete in traditional rounds, trick‑shot challenges, and a variety of entertaining golf‑related contests. Over the years, the brand has expanded beyond online video into television‑style productions, a line of apparel, and other merchandise sold through major retailers. The controversial advertisement was billed by the company as a parody of the horror film "Obsession," but the intended humor fell flat for many viewers who saw the scene as an unnecessary and harmful depiction of gender‑based aggression. The video was taken down on the same day it was posted, August 20, after the criticism became relentless.
PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp expressed disappointment in a recent interview, stating, "We were disappointed with what we saw. The PGA Tour believes in golf's ability to bring people together and create a welcoming environment for all." His comments underscored the broader concern within the golf community that the sport should be inclusive and free from content that could alienate participants or fans. Garrett Clark, one of Good Good Golf’s founders and the individual who physically pushed the woman in the video, later posted an eight‑minute response video.
In it, he labeled the commercial "the worst ad known to man" and emphasized that it did not reflect the values of the brand. Clark’s candid admission was an attempt to distance the company from the misstep and reassure the audience that the incident was an outlier rather than a reflection of the company’s ethos. The repercussions of the incident have extended beyond personnel changes. Good Good Golf had been slated to serve as the title sponsor for a new PGA Tour event slated to take place in Austin in November.
In light of the controversy, the company withdrew its sponsorship, and Callaway Golf terminated its partnership with Good Good Golf altogether. Additionally, major retailers such as Golf Galaxy and its parent company, Dick’s Sporting Goods, removed Good Good Golf merchandise from their shelves, further signaling the commercial fallout.
The episode serves as a cautionary tale for brands that rely heavily on digital content and influencer culture. While the blend of entertainment and sport can generate massive engagement, it also demands a heightened awareness of social responsibility and audience sensitivities. As Good Good Golf works to rebuild its reputation, the interim leadership under Nahid Giga will need to navigate both internal restructuring and external perception management. Looking forward, the company has pledged to focus on creating content that aligns with the inclusive spirit of golf while continuing to innovate in the digital space.
The hope among stakeholders is that the brand can learn from this misstep, restore trust with its community, and emerge stronger in the competitive landscape of sports media.