Golf Executives Step Down Amid Ad Backlash

Two senior executives from Good Good Golf have left their roles, following backlash over a golf advert that showed a woman being pushed to the ground.

Good Good Golf CEO Matt Kendrick and president Joe Flannery have both left the company as fallout continues around the video, which was published last month to advertise a new Callaway driver but was subsequently deleted.

The popular content creators drew widespread criticism that the video portrayed violence against women, with Good Good Golf apologising in a social media statement and Callaway Golf admitting mistakes were made over their handling of the incident.

Good Good Golf has faced significant backlash, with the company withdrawing from title sponsoring a PGA Tour event in Austin in November. Callaway has also ended their relationship with Good Good Golf. Retailers, including Golf Galaxy and its parent company, Dick’s Sporting Goods, removed the company’s merchandise from their shelves.

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PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said last week of the response from Good Good Golf, “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.”

An internal memo from Alex Puchala, head of finance and operations, confirmed that Nahid Giga – a board member and investor in Good Good Golf – has been installed as interim CEO.

Puchala said in the statement, “This is a difficult day for the entire Good Good family. Matt Kendrick 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.

Nahid Giga, Good Good co-founder and one of the first investors, will step in as interim CEO, effective immediately. Garrett Clark and the creator team will keep doing what they do best, making great content and engaging fans who are eager to see and hear from them.

Alex Puchala will remain COO and CF and will continue to oversee day-to-day operations. They will ensure stability through this transition.

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Good Good Golf was launched as a YouTube channel in 2020 and is now among the largest content creators in the sport, featuring eight men and four women competing in golf and various challenges.

The company had said the controversial advert was meant to parody the horror movie “Obsession“, but the criticism was relentless, and the video was deleted on the same day it was posted on August 20.

Garrett Clark, a Good Good founder, posted an eight-minute video in which he called the commercial in question “the worst ad known to man” and “not what we stand for.”

It has made-for-TV shows, apparel, and other merchandise.