Golf Ad Scandal: Exec Sues for $1M

A defamation lawsuit seeking $1 million in damages has been filed by Jeffrey Lefkovits, the former vice president of brand and marketing at Good Good Golf. Lefkovits claims he was scapegoated by the company and its former CEO, Matthew Kendrick, for a controversial advertisement that featured a depiction of casual violence toward a woman. This ad, intended to promote a Callaway driver by spoofing a horror movie, led to widespread criticism and the termination of several high-profile partnerships, including Callaway's.

Lefkovits asserts that the violent scene was not part of the original script he approved and was added on set without his knowledge. He alleges that after Callaway ended its partnership, Kendrick changed his narrative regarding blame, initially accepting responsibility as CEO before later attributing it to the marketing team. Lefkovits was terminated on August 26, 2026, shortly after the advertisement's release, and claims his industry reputation has been tarnished, preventing him from securing new employment.

The lawsuit also details the approval process for the advertisement, with Lefkovits claiming that drafts were shared with the talent team, leadership, and Callaway's director of content and production, who approved it. The ad was released on August 20, 2026, drawing immediate backlash.