UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

(RULE 14a-101)

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Check the appropriate box:

☐    Preliminary Proxy Statement

☐    Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

☒    Definitive Proxy Statement

☐    Definitive Additional Materials

☐    Soliciting Material Under § 240.14a-12

Callaway Golf Company

(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

March 18, 2019

Dear Shareholders:

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Callaway Golf Company, which will be held on Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at our offices located at 2180 Rutherford Road, Carlsbad, California 92008, commencing at 8:00 a.m. (Pacific Time). A map is provided on the back page of these materials for your reference. Your Board of Directors and management look forward to greeting personally those shareholders who attend.

At the meeting, your Board of Directors will ask shareholders to (i) elect ten directors; (ii) ratify, on an advisory basis, the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019; and (iii) approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers. These matters are described more fully in the accompanying Proxy Statement, which you are urged to read thoroughly. Your Board of Directors recommends a vote “FOR” each of the director nominees, “FOR” ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm and “FOR” the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers.

We have elected to take advantage of Securities and Exchange Commission rules that allow companies to furnish proxy materials to their shareholders by providing access to these documents on the Internet instead of mailing printed copies. Those rules allow a company to provide its shareholders with the information they need, while lowering the costs of delivery and reducing the environmental impact of the annual meeting. Most of our shareholders will not receive printed copies of our proxy materials unless requested, but instead will receive a notice with instructions on how they may access and review our proxy materials on the Internet and how they may cast their vote via the Internet. If you would like to receive a printed or e-mail copy of our proxy materials, please follow the instructions for requesting the materials in the Notice of Internet Availability that is being sent to you.

Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting, please vote as soon as possible. If you received the Notice of Internet Availability, a proxy card was not sent to you and you may vote only via the Internet unless you attend the annual meeting or request that a proxy card and proxy materials be mailed to you. If you have requested that a proxy card and proxy materials be mailed to you, and you have received those materials, then you may vote via the Internet, by telephone or by mailing a completed proxy card. For specific voting instructions, please refer to the information provided in the accompanying Proxy Statement and in the Notice of Internet Availability.

Thank you for your continued interest in and support of Callaway Golf Company.

Sincerely,

Oliver G. (Chip) Brewer III

President and Chief Executive Officer

CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY

2180 Rutherford Road

Carlsbad, California 92008

NOTICE OF 2019 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

Table of Contents

CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY

2180 Rutherford Road

Carlsbad, California 92008

PROXY STATEMENT

2019 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

GENERAL INFORMATION

Why am I receiving these materials?

Callaway Golf Company (the “Company”) has prepared these materials for its 2019 annual meeting of shareholders and any adjournment or postponement thereof (the “Annual Meeting”). The Annual Meeting is scheduled to be held at the Company’s offices located at 2180 Rutherford Road, Carlsbad, California 92008 on Tuesday, May 7, 2019 commencing at 8:00 a.m. (Pacific Time). You are invited to attend and are requested to vote on the proposals described in this Proxy Statement. The Company is soliciting proxies for use at the Annual Meeting.

The proxy materials were first sent or made available to shareholders on or about March 28, 2019.

What is included in these proxy materials?

If you requested printed versions by mail, you also will receive a proxy card or voting instruction form.

Why did I receive a one-page notice in the mail regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials instead of a full set of proxy materials?

In accordance with rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Company uses the Internet as the primary means of furnishing proxy materials to its shareholders. Accordingly, the Company is sending a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials to its shareholders with instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the Internet or request a printed copy of the materials, and for voting over the Internet.

Shareholders may follow the instructions in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials to elect to receive future proxy materials in print by mail or electronically by email. The Company encourages its shareholders to take advantage of the availability of the proxy materials on the Internet to help reduce the environmental impact of its annual meetings and reduce the cost to the Company associated with the printing and mailing of materials.

What items will be voted on at the Annual Meeting?

There are three items that shareholders may vote on at the Annual Meeting:

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Will any other business be conducted at the Annual Meeting?

Other than the proposals described in this Proxy Statement, the Company knows of no other matters to be submitted to the shareholders at the Annual Meeting. If any other matter properly comes before the shareholders at the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named as proxy holders to vote upon such matters in accordance with the Board’s recommendation.

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VOTING INFORMATION

Who may vote at the Annual Meeting?

Only holders of record of the Company’s common stock (the “Common Stock”) as of the close of business on March 11, 2019, the record date for the Annual Meeting, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. The Company had no other class of capital stock outstanding as of the record date, and no other shares are entitled to notice of, or to vote at, the Annual Meeting.

What is the difference between a shareholder of record and a beneficial owner of shares held in street name?

If your shares are registered directly in your name with the Company’s registrar and transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., you are considered a shareholder of record with respect to those shares and the Company’s proxy materials have been made available to you by the Company. If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account, by a bank, broker, trustee or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in street name and the Company’s proxy materials are being forwarded to you by your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee that is considered the owner of record of those shares. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to instruct your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee on how to vote your shares.

If I am a shareholder of record of the Company’s shares, how do I vote?

If you are a shareholder of record, there are four ways to vote:

If I am a beneficial owner of the Company’s shares held in street name, how do I vote?

You will receive instructions from the holder of record that you must follow in order for your shares to be voted. The availability of telephonic or Internet voting will depend on your bank’s, broker’s, trustee’s or other nominee’s voting process. Please check with your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee and follow the voting instructions they provide to vote your shares. If you wish to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must request a legal proxy from your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee that holds your shares and present that proxy and proof of identification at the Annual Meeting.

How are proxies voted?

All shares represented by valid proxies received prior to the taking of the vote at the Annual Meeting will be voted and, where a shareholder specifies by means of the proxy a choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon, the shares will be voted in accordance with the shareholder’s instructions. Similarly, if you transmit your voting instructions by telephone or via the Internet, your shares will be voted as you have instructed.

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What happens if I do not give specific voting instructions?

Shareholders of Record. If you are a shareholder of record and you indicate when voting on the Internet or by telephone that you wish to vote as recommended by the Board, then your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the Board’s recommendation on all matters presented for a vote at the Annual Meeting. Similarly, if you sign and return a proxy card but do not indicate how you want to vote your shares for a particular proposal or for all of the proposals, then for any proposal for which you do not so indicate, your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the Board’s recommendation.

Beneficial Owners of Shares Held in Street Name. If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name and do not provide the organization that holds your shares with specific voting instructions, then, under applicable New York Stock Exchange rules, the organization that holds your shares may generally vote your shares in their discretion on “routine” matters but cannot vote on “non-routine” matters. If the organization that holds your shares does not receive instructions from you on how to vote your shares on a non-routine matter, that organization will inform the inspector of election that it does not have the authority to vote on that matter with respect to your shares. This is generally referred to as a “broker non-vote.”

Which proposals are considered “routine” or “non-routine”?

The ratification, on an advisory basis, of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is considered a routine matter. A bank, broker, trustee or other nominee may generally vote your shares on routine matters even without receiving instructions from you, and therefore no broker non-votes are expected with respect to this proposal.

The election of directors and the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers are considered non-routine matters. Brokers and other nominees cannot vote your shares on these proposals without receiving instructions from you, and therefore broker non-votes may occur with respect to these proposals.

How does the Board recommend that I vote?

The Board recommends that you vote:

By returning your proxy via the Internet or by telephone or mail, unless you notify the Company’s Corporate Secretary in writing to the contrary, you are also authorizing the proxies to vote your shares in accordance with the Board’s recommendation on any other matter that may properly come before the Annual Meeting. The Company does not currently know of any such other matter.

What is the quorum requirement for the Annual Meeting?

As of the record date for the Annual Meeting, there were 94,818,838 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding. Under Delaware law and the Company’s Bylaws, the holders of a majority of the Common Stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. If you submit a properly executed proxy via the Internet or by telephone or mail, regardless of whether you abstain from voting on one or more matters, your shares will be counted as present at the

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Annual Meeting for the purpose of determining a quorum. Broker non-votes will also be counted as present for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum at the Annual Meeting. The inspector of election will determine whether a quorum is present and will tabulate the votes cast at the Annual Meeting.

How many votes does each share have?

Holders of Common Stock have one vote for each share on any matter that may be presented for consideration and action by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting, except that shareholders have cumulative voting rights with respect to the election of directors. Cumulative voting rights entitle each shareholder to cast as many votes as are equal to the number of directors to be elected multiplied by the number of shares owned by such shareholder, which votes may be cast for one candidate or distributed among two or more candidates. A shareholder of record may exercise cumulative voting rights by indicating on the proxy card the manner in which such votes should be allocated, or if such shareholder votes in person at the Annual Meeting, such shareholder must submit a ballot and make an explicit statement of the intent to cumulate votes. A shareholder who holds shares beneficially through a bank, broker, trustee or other nominee and wishes to cumulate votes, should contact his, her or its bank, broker, trustee or other nominee. Internet and telephone voting cannot accommodate cumulative voting.

What is the voting requirement to approve each of the proposals?

Assuming a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting, the ten nominees for director receiving the highest number of votes at the Annual Meeting will be elected. Returning a proxy giving authority to vote for the nominees named in this Proxy Statement will also give discretion to the designated proxies to cumulate votes and cast such votes in favor of the election of some or all of the applicable director nominees in their sole discretion.

Assuming a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares having voting power present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting is required for the ratification, on an advisory basis, of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and for the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers.

How are abstentions and broker non-votes treated?

As noted above, abstentions and broker non-votes are counted for purposes of determining a quorum. For purposes of determining whether a proposal is approved (other than the election of directors), abstentions are counted in the tabulation of shares present in person or represented by proxy and have the same effect as voting against a proposal. Broker non-votes are not considered as shares having voting power present in person or represented by proxy and will not be counted toward the vote total and therefore will have no effect on the outcome of a proposal.

Can I change my vote after I have voted?

Shareholders of Record. You may revoke your proxy and change your vote at any time before your shares are voted at the Annual Meeting by taking any of the following actions:

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Any written notice of revocation or later dated proxy that is mailed must be received by the Company’s Corporate Secretary before the close of business on May 6, 2019, and should be addressed as follows: Callaway Golf Company, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 2180 Rutherford Road, Carlsbad, California 92008. Alternatively, you may hand deliver a written revocation notice or a later dated proxy to the Company’s Corporate Secretary at the Annual Meeting before voting begins.

Beneficial Owners of Shares Held in Street Name. You must follow the instructions provided by your bank, broker, trustee or other nominee if you wish to change your vote.

Why did I receive more than one Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or proxy card?

If you receive more than one Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or proxy card, it means you hold shares that are registered in more than one account. To ensure that all of your shares are voted, please mark your votes and date, sign and return each proxy card, or vote your proxy via the Internet or by telephone as instructed on each proxy card.

Who is soliciting these proxies and who is paying the solicitation costs?

The cost of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing the proxy materials and, if applicable, proxy card, and the cost of soliciting proxies relating to the Annual Meeting, will be borne by the Company. The Company may request banks, brokers and other third parties to solicit their customers who beneficially own Common Stock listed of record in the name of such bank, broker or other third party, and the Company will reimburse such banks, brokers and third parties for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for such solicitations. The solicitation of proxies by mail may be supplemented by telephone, facsimile, Internet and personal solicitation by directors, officers and other employees of the Company, but no additional compensation will be paid to such individuals. The Company has retained Alliance Advisors LLC to assist in the solicitation of proxies for a base fee of approximately $11,500, plus out-of-pocket expenses.

I share an address with another shareholder, and we received only one paper copy of the proxy materials. How can I obtain an additional copy?

With regard to the delivery of annual reports and proxy statements, under certain circumstances the SEC permits the Company to send a single set of such proxy materials or, where applicable, one Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, to any household at which two or more shareholders reside if they appear to be members of the same family (unless otherwise requested by one or more of such shareholders). Each shareholder, however, still receives a separate proxy card if he or she receives paper copies. This procedure, known as “householding,” reduces the amount of duplicate information received at a household and reduces mailing and printing costs as well. This year, the Company will be mailing primarily Notices of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and only a small number of printed copies of the annual report and Proxy Statement to parties who have requested paper copies.

A number of banks, brokers and other third parties have instituted householding and have previously sent a notice to that effect to certain of the Company’s beneficial shareholders whose shares are registered in the name of the bank, broker or other third party. As a result, unless the shareholders receiving such notice gave contrary instructions, only one annual report and one proxy statement or one Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials will be mailed to an address at which two or more such shareholders reside. If any shareholder residing at such an address wishes to receive a separate annual report and proxy statement or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials in the future, such shareholder should telephone the householding election system (toll-free) at 1-800-522-6645.

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In addition, (i) if any shareholder who previously consented to householding desires to promptly receive a separate copy of the annual report and proxy statement or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, for each shareholder at his or her same address, or (ii) if any shareholder shares an address with another shareholder and both shareholders at such address desire to receive only a single copy of the annual report and proxy statement or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, then such shareholder should, if such shareholder is a beneficial shareholder, contact his or her bank, broker or other third party in whose name the shares are registered or, if such shareholder is a shareholder of record, contact the Company as follows: Callaway Golf Company, Attention: Investor Relations, 2180 Rutherford Road, Carlsbad, California 92008, telephone (760) 931-1771. Upon written or oral request, the Company will promptly deliver a separate copy of the annual report and proxy statement or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials to any shareholder at a shared address to which a single copy of such material was delivered.

What else is expected to take place at the Annual Meeting?

The main purpose of the Annual Meeting is to conduct the business described in this Proxy Statement. As such, the Company intends to conduct the required business and then have a short question and answer period. The Company does not intend to make a formal presentation to shareholders. Since no presentation is planned, it is expected that the meeting will last only a few minutes.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Corporate Governance Guidelines

Corporate governance is the system by which corporations ensure that they are managed ethically and in the best interests of their shareholders. The Company is committed to maintaining high standards of corporate governance, and the Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines to provide the Company’s shareholders and other interested parties with insight into the Company’s corporate governance practices. The Corporate Governance Guidelines are reviewed regularly and updated as appropriate. The full text of the Corporate Governance Guidelines is available on the Company’s website at www.callawaygolf.com under Investor Relations — Corporate Governance. They address, among other topics:

Director Independence

The Company’s Bylaws and Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that a substantial majority of the Company’s directors must be independent. A director is independent only if the director is not a Company employee and the Board has determined that the director has no direct or indirect material relationship to the Company. To be independent, a director must also satisfy any other independence requirements under applicable law or regulation and the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”). In evaluating a particular relationship, the Board considers the materiality of the relationship to the Company, to the director and, if applicable, to any organization with which the director is affiliated. To assist in its independence evaluation, the Board adopted categorical independence standards, which are listed in Appendix A to the Corporate Governance Guidelines. Compliance with these internal and NYSE independence standards is reviewed at least annually. The Board has determined that each of the nine current non-management directors is independent. Oliver G. Brewer III, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, is the only current director who is not independent. Therefore, a substantial majority of the Board members is independent, and all director nominees other than Mr. Brewer are independent.

Director Qualifications

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible, among other things, for developing and recommending to the Board criteria for Board membership and for identifying and recruiting potential Board candidates based on the identified criteria in the context of the Board as a whole and in light of the Board’s needs at a particular time. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has worked with the Board to identify certain minimum criteria that every candidate must meet in order to be considered eligible to serve on the Board: a candidate must (i) exhibit very high personal and professional ethics, integrity and values; (ii) not have any conflicting interest that would materially impair his or her ability to discharge the fiduciary duties of a director; (iii) be committed to the best interests of the Company’s shareholders and be able to represent fairly and equally all shareholders without favoring or advancing any particular shareholder or other constituency; and (iv) be able to devote adequate time to Board activities. A potential candidate will not be considered for a directorship unless he or she satisfies these threshold criteria.

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In addition to these minimum threshold criteria, the Board believes that, as a whole, the Board should possess a combination of skills, professional experience, and diversity of backgrounds necessary to oversee the Company’s business. In this regard, the Board has determined that one or more of its members, among other things, should (i) be currently serving as an active executive of another corporation, (ii) have prior experience as a chief executive officer or an operating executive with significant responsibility for operating results, (iii) have public company executive experience, (iv) have public company board experience, (v) have corporate governance experience, (vi) have executive compensation experience, and (vii) have consumer products experience. The Board also believes that one or more of its members should have functional expertise in each of finance, accounting, legal matters, investment banking, technology, manufacturing, international business, research and development, strategic planning, consumer sales and marketing, retail business, and mergers and acquisitions. Potential candidates are evaluated based upon the factors described above as well as their independence and relevant business and industry experience.

The annual evaluation and assessment of the Board and its committees that is performed under the direction of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee enables the Board to update its determination of the skills and experience it seeks on the Board as a whole and in individual directors as the Company’s needs evolve and change over time. See the section below entitled, “— Annual Board and Committee Evaluation and Assessment.” In identifying director candidates from time to time, the Board or Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may establish specific skills and experience that it believes the Company should seek in order to constitute a balanced and effective board.

In addition, although the Board does not have a formal policy regarding diversity, it believes that ethnic, gender and cultural diversity among its members can provide distinct value and is important. In considering a potential new candidate, the Board considers whether he or she would increase the Board’s ethnic, gender or cultural diversity.

Identification of Potential Director Candidates

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee uses a variety of methods for identifying director candidates, including professional search firms and recommendations from the Company’s officers, directors, shareholders or other persons. If a shareholder believes that he or she has identified an appropriate candidate who is willing to serve on the Board, the shareholder may submit a written recommendation to the Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, c/o Corporate Secretary at 2180 Rutherford Road, Carlsbad, California 92008. Such recommendation must include detailed biographical information concerning the recommended candidate, including a statement regarding the candidate’s qualifications. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may require such further information and obtain such further assurances concerning the recommended candidate as it deems reasonably necessary. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will evaluate director candidates properly submitted by shareholders in the same manner as it evaluates all other director candidates. In addition to bringing potential qualified candidates to the attention of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee as discussed above, a nomination of a person for election to the Board at an annual meeting of shareholders may be made by shareholders who meet the qualifications set forth in the Company’s Bylaws and who make such nominations in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Company’s Bylaws, including the procedures described under the section entitled “Shareholder Proposals” in this Proxy Statement.

Nomination Process

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee believes that the continuing service of qualified incumbents promotes stability and continuity on the Board and contributes to its ability to function effectively. The continuing service of qualified incumbents also provides the Company with the benefit of the familiarity with and insight into the Company’s affairs that its directors have accumulated

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during their tenure. As a result, in considering candidates for nomination for each annual meeting of shareholders, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee first considers the Company’s incumbent directors who desire to continue their service. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will generally recommend to the Board an incumbent director for re-election if the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has determined that (i) the incumbent director continues to satisfy the threshold criteria described above, (ii) the incumbent director has satisfactorily performed his or her duties as a director during the most recent term and (iii) there exists no reason why, in the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s view, the incumbent director should not be re-elected. If a Board vacancy becomes available as a result of the death, resignation or removal of an incumbent director or as a result of action taken by the Board to increase its size, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee proceeds to identify candidates who meet the required criteria and attributes.

Service on Other Public Boards

Under the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, a director may not serve on the board of directors of more than four other public corporations in addition to the Company’s Board. In addition, in advance of accepting an invitation to serve on the board of another public corporation, directors should consult with the Board Chairman or the Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to confirm that service on such other board does not interfere with the director’s service on the Company’s Board or create an unacceptable conflict of interest. Further, no member of the Audit Committee may serve on the audit committee (or board committee performing similar functions) of more than two other public corporations without the prior approval of the Company’s Board. Regardless of a director’s outside activities, a director is always required to be able to devote sufficient time and attention to the Company’s business and to the performance of the director’s duties as a member of the Company’s Board.

Majority Vote Policy

Under the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, in an uncontested election of directors, any nominee who has a greater number of votes “withheld” from his or her election than votes “for” such election, which the Company refers to as a “Majority Withheld Vote,” is required to submit in writing an offer to resign to the Board Chairman promptly upon certification of the shareholder vote. The Chairman refers the matter to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which in turn will consider, among other things, the reasons for the Majority Withheld Vote and will recommend to the Board whether or not to accept the resignation offer. The Board will consider such recommendation and will determine whether to accept the resignation and, if it does not accept the resignation, whether any further action is needed to address the reasons for the Majority Withheld Vote. The Board is required to publicly disclose such determination and the basis therefor. The director nominee who received the Majority Withheld Vote does not participate in the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation or the Board’s decision.

Annual Board and Committee Assessment and Evaluation

Pursuant to the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Board and each of its committees conduct, under the direction of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, an annual assessment of their functionality and effectiveness, including an assessment of the skills and experience that are currently represented on the Board and that the Board will find valuable in the future given the Company’s current situation and strategic plans. As part of this process, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee invites input from each director on the performance of each of the other directors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers individual director performance at least annually when deciding whether to nominate an incumbent director for re-election.

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Board Leadership Structure

The Board believes that strong, independent board leadership is a critical aspect of effective corporate governance. The Board Chairman is selected by the Board as it deems to be in the best interests of the Company from time to time, and may be either a management or a non-management director. The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that if the Board Chairman is not an independent director (e.g., when the Chairman is also the Chief Executive Officer), then the Board will appoint a lead independent director. The independent chairman or the lead independent director, as the case may be, works with the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the Company’s Corporate Secretary to set the Board’s work program and meeting agendas, coordinates the activities of the independent directors, serves as a liaison between the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the independent directors, and presides at the executive sessions (without management) of the independent directors.

The Company currently separates the positions of Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in recognition of the differences between the two roles. The Board Chairman is Ronald S. Beard, and Mr. Brewer is our Chief Executive Officer. Separating these positions and having the Chairman lead the Board in its oversight responsibilities enables the Company’s Chief Executive Officer to focus on day-to-day business and his other responsibilities. The Board has determined that the Company’s Board leadership structure is the most appropriate at this time, given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Company, and the unique skills and experience of each of Mr. Beard and Mr. Brewer. Accordingly, because Mr. Beard, who is an independent director, is serving as Board Chairman, the Board therefore does not currently have a director with the title of lead independent director. A copy of the charter for the Board Chairman position is available on the Company’s website at www.callawaygolf.com under Investor Relations — Corporate Governance — Board Memberships.

Risk Oversight

The Board oversees an enterprise-wide approach to risk management and works with the Audit Committee and management in executing its oversight responsibility for risk management. The Board generally oversees risks related to the Company’s strategic and operational objectives and is responsible for overseeing the amounts and types of risks taken by management in executing those objectives. In addition, the Board has delegated to the Audit Committee the responsibility for oversight of certain of the Company’s risk oversight and compliance matters, including oversight of (i) material legal proceedings and material contingent liabilities, (ii) the Company’s policies regarding risk assessment and management, (iii) the Company’s compliance programs with respect to legal and regulatory requirements and the Company’s Code of Conduct, and (iv) the establishment of procedures for the receipt and handling of complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls and auditing matters. The Board has delegated to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee the responsibility for overseeing any related party transactions.

On a day-to-day basis, it is management’s responsibility to manage risk and bring to the attention of the Board any significant risks facing the Company and the controls in place to manage those risks. As part of this responsibility, management conducts a periodic enterprise risk management assessment, which is led by the Company’s corporate audit department. All members of management responsible for key business functions and operations participate in this assessment. The assessment includes an identification, and quantification of the potential impact, of the top risks facing the Company and the controls in place to mitigate such risks as well as possible opportunities to reduce such risks. This report is shared with the Audit Committee and the full Board.

See “Executive Officer Compensation—Governance and Other Considerations—Risk Assessment of Compensation Programs” below for information regarding the Company’s risk assessment of its compensation programs.

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Board Committees

The Board currently has three standing committees:

The Board has adopted written charters for each of the three standing committees, copies of which are available on the Company’s website at www.callawaygolf.com under Investor Relations — Corporate Governance — Board Committees. Upon request, the Company will provide to any person without charge a copy of such charters. Any such request may be made by contacting the Company’s Investor Relations Department by telephone at (760) 931-1771 or by mail at Callaway Golf Company, Attention: Investor Relations, 2180 Rutherford Road, Carlsbad, California 92008.

The Board has determined that the chair of each committee and all committee members are independent under applicable NYSE and SEC rules for committee memberships. The members of the committees are shown in the table below.

(1) Ms. Flanagan joined the Board in November 2018 and therefore she is not yet a member of any of the committees.

Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is a separately designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The Audit Committee’s role includes representing and assisting the Board in discharging its oversight responsibility relating to: (a) the accounting, reporting and financial practices of the Company, including the integrity of the Company’s financial statements; (b) the Company’s outside auditors, including their qualifications, performance and independence; (c) the performance of the Company’s internal audit function; and (d) the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The Audit Committee:

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Audit Committee Financial Sophistication and Expertise. The Board has determined that each Audit Committee member is financially literate and has the accounting or related financial management expertise within the meaning of NYSE listing standards. The Board has also determined that at least one Audit Committee member qualifies as an Audit Committee Financial Expert as defined by Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Board has designated Mr. Armacost as the Audit Committee Financial Expert. The Board also believes that the collective experiences of the other Audit Committee members make them well qualified to serve on the Audit Committee. Shareholders should understand that Mr. Armacost’s designation as an Audit Committee Financial Expert is an SEC disclosure requirement, and it does not impose on Mr. Armacost any duties, obligations or liabilities that are greater than those which are generally imposed on him as a member of the Audit Committee and the Board, and his designation as an Audit Committee Financial Expert pursuant to this requirement does not affect the duties, obligations or liabilities of any other member of the Audit Committee or the Board.

Additional information regarding the Audit Committee’s responsibilities can be found under the sections entitled “— Risk Oversight,” above and “Audit Committee Report” and “Information Concerning Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm,” below.

Compensation and Management Succession Committee. The Compensation Committee:

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Additional information regarding the Compensation Committee’s responsibilities can be found under the section entitled “Executive Officer Compensation,” below.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee:

Additional information regarding the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s responsibilities can be found under the sections entitled “— Director Qualifications,” “— Identification of Potential Director Candidates,” “— Nomination Process” and “— Annual Board and Committee Assessment and Evaluation,” above.

Meetings and Director Attendance

During 2018, the Board met nine times and the independent directors met in executive session at five of those meetings and determined that there was no need to meet in executive session at the other meetings; the Audit Committee met eight times; the Compensation Committee met five times; and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met four times. In addition to meetings, the members of the Board and its committees sometimes take action by written consent in lieu of a meeting, which is permitted under Delaware corporate law, or discuss Company business without calling a formal meeting.

During 2018, all of the Company’s directors attended in excess of 75% of the meetings of the Board and of its committees on which they served. All of the directors standing for re-election are expected to attend the annual meetings of shareholders, and all such directors who were serving on the Board at such time attended the 2018 annual meeting of shareholders.

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Communications with the Board

Shareholders and other interested parties may contact the Board Chairman or the non-management directors as a group by e-mail at: non-managementdirectors@callawaygolf.com, or by mail to: Board of Directors, Callaway Golf Company, 2180 Rutherford Road, Carlsbad, California 92008. The Company’s Corporate Secretary’s office reviews all incoming communications and filters out solicitations and junk mail. All legitimate non-solicitation and non-junk mail communications are distributed to the non-management directors or handled as appropriate as directed by the Board Chairman.

Code of Conduct

The Board has adopted a Code of Conduct that applies to all of the Company’s employees, including its senior financial and executive officers, as well as the Company’s directors. The Code of Conduct covers the basic standards of conduct applicable to all directors, officers and employees of the Company, as well as the Company’s Conflicts of Interest and Ethics Policy and other specific compliance standards and related matters. The Company will promptly disclose any waivers of certain provisions of our Code of Conduct, or amendments to such provisions, that apply to the Company’s directors and senior financial and executive officers on its website at www.callawaygolf.com.

The Code of Conduct is available on the Company’s website at www.callawaygolf.com under Investor Relations — Code of Conduct. Upon request, the Company will provide to any person without charge a copy of the Code of Conduct. Any such request may be made by contacting the Company’s Investor Relations department by telephone at (760) 931-1771 or by mail at Callaway Golf Company, Attention: Investor Relations, 2180 Rutherford Road, Carlsbad, California 92008.

Stock Ownership Guidelines

In order to promote ownership of the Common Stock by the Company’s non-management directors and executive officers and thereby more closely align their interests with the interests of the Company’s shareholders, the Board has adopted stock ownership guidelines requiring the Company’s non-management directors and executive officers to own Common Stock interests with a value equal to at least the following minimum amounts:

The minimum share ownership amounts are required to be achieved within five years of an individual first becoming subject to these guidelines. All shares for which a director or an executive officer is deemed to be the beneficial owner under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, including shares held in a living trust for the individual’s benefit, count toward this ownership requirement. Restricted stock and service-based restricted stock unit awards held by the director or executive count toward the holding requirements. Performance-based restricted stock units do not count toward this ownership requirement unless and until the performance criteria are satisfied. Stock options, stock appreciation rights, and phantom stock units do not count toward this ownership requirement unless and until any underlying shares are issued. Unless a non-management director or executive officer is in compliance with these guidelines, he or she is required to retain and hold 50% of any “net shares” of Common Stock issued in connection with any equity-based awards granted under the Company’s compensation plans after such non-management director or executive officer first becomes subject to these guidelines. “Net shares” are those shares that remain after shares are sold or withheld (i) to pay the exercise price and withholding taxes in the case of stock options or (ii) to pay withholding taxes in the case of other awards. Compliance with these guidelines is assessed on an annual basis. At the time compliance was assessed in 2018, all directors and executive officers attained the minimum ownership levels.

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Policy on Speculative Trading Activities — Anti-Hedging and Pledging Policy

The Company’s insider trading policy provides, among other things, that directors, officers and other employees may not engage in certain types of speculative activities with respect to the Company’s securities, including short sales, transactions in put options, call options or other derivative securities, hedging transactions, pledging of Company stock as collateral for a loan, or holding shares of Company stock in a margin account.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

In 2018, the Company’s executive officer compensation matters were handled by the Compensation Committee, which was during 2018 and is currently comprised of the following directors: Messrs. Armacost, Beard, Cushman, Lundgren and Ms. Segre. During the times of their committee service during 2018, all of such members were determined to be independent and there were no compensation committee interlocks.

Director Compensation

Directors who are not also Company employees are compensated for their service on the Board and its committees with a mix of cash and equity-based compensation. Directors are also reimbursed for their travel expenses incurred in connection with their duties, and receive other benefits such as the right to use, and the right to purchase at a discount, the Company’s products. As discussed above, the Compensation Committee periodically reviews the compensation and benefits the directors receive from the Company for service on the Board and on Board committees and recommends changes to the Board.

Mr. Brewer, as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, does not receive any additional cash or equity-based compensation for serving on the Board.

Cash Compensation. During 2018, non-employee directors were paid an annual base cash compensation of $75,000. Non-employee directors who serve as chairs of Board committees are paid an additional annual retainer fee. The Chair of the Audit Committee is paid $15,000; the Chair of the Compensation Committee is paid $12,500; the Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is paid $10,000; and the Board Chairman is paid an additional annual $40,000 cash retainer.

Equity-Based Compensation. Upon the initial election or appointment of a new director and for each year of continuing service on the Board, a non-employee director is granted restricted stock units generally (but may be granted stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, or a combination thereof, as permitted under the Company’s 2013 Non-Employee Directors Stock Incentive Plan) with an aggregate grant date fair value of approximately $100,000 as the long-term incentive portion of director compensation. Such equity-based awards are made as of the date of appointment or re-election in the form and amount as determined by the Board on the recommendation of the Compensation Committee. The value and the number of equity awards granted to the directors in 2018 are reported in the table below.

Other Benefits. The Company has a policy that the non-employee directors should promote the Company’s products by using the Company’s current products whenever they play golf. To assist them in complying with this policy, non-employee directors are entitled to receive a limited amount of the Company’s golf club and golf ball products, free of charge, for their own personal use and the use of immediate family members residing in their households. Non-employee directors also receive a limited amount of other products (e.g., apparel and other accessories) free of charge and the right to purchase a limited amount of additional golf clubs, balls and accessories at a discount that is not material in amount. The aggregate value of this personal benefit did not exceed $10,000 for any director in 2018 and is therefore not required to be reported in the table below.

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Director Compensation in Fiscal Year 2018

The following table summarizes the compensation of the Company’s non-employee directors for fiscal year 2018:

(1) Mr. Beard was paid an additional $40,000 for service as Board Chair. Mr. Armacost was paid an additional $15,000 for service as Audit Committee Chair. Mr. Lundgren was paid an additional $12,500 for service as Compensation Committee Chair. Mr. Ogunlesi was paid an additional $10,000 for service as Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chair.

(2) Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) calculated for financial reporting purposes for the year utilizing the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, “Compensation — Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”). See Note 15, “Share-Based Compensation,” to the Company’s Audited Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 for information concerning the ASC 718 values, which are based on the fair value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. In 2018, each non-employee director who was re-elected to the Board was granted 5,845 RSUs with a grant date fair value of $103,632 as continuing service awards, which, subject to continued service, generally vest on the one-year anniversary of the grant date. In connection with the appointment of Ms. Flanagan to the Board in November 2018, Ms. Flanagan was granted 4,451 RSUs with a grant date value of $98,634, which, subject to continued service, vest on the one-year anniversary of the grant date.

The table below shows the number of outstanding RSUs held by our non-employee directors as of December 31, 2018, including accrued share dividend equivalents:

(3) Ms. Flanagan joined the Board in November 2018.

(4) Mr. Fleischer joined the Board in May 2018.

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PROPOSAL NO. 1 - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The terms of all of the Company’s directors expire at the Annual Meeting. Upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Board has nominated the ten current directors identified in the table below to stand for election at the Annual Meeting to serve until the 2020 annual meeting of shareholders and until their respective successors are elected and qualified.

Each director nominee has consented to being named in this Proxy Statement as a nominee and has agreed to serve as a director if elected. If any one or more of such nominees should for any reason become unavailable for election, the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy may vote for the election of such substitute nominees as the Board may propose. The accompanying form of proxy contains a discretionary grant of authority with respect to this matter. There is no family relationship between any director, executive officer, or person nominated or chosen by the Company to become a director or executive officer.

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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

Management has the responsibility for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Company’s financial statements and for its financial reporting process, and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformance of the Company’s financial statements to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and discussing with management and the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm the Company’s annual and quarterly financial statements and financial reporting process and for providing advice, counsel and direction on such matters based upon the information it receives, its discussions with management and the independent registered public accounting firm and the experience of the Audit Committee members in business, financial and accounting matters.

Consistent with and in furtherance of its chartered duties, the Audit Committee has adopted: (i) a written policy restricting the hiring of candidates for accounting or financial reporting positions if such candidates have certain current or former relationships with the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm; (ii) procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, auditing and federal securities laws matters and the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of any concerns regarding any of the foregoing; and (iii) a written policy governing the preapproval of audit and non-audit services to be provided by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and of the fees therefor. See “Information Concerning Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm—Policy for Preapproval of Auditor Fees and Services,” below.

Internal Audit

The Company has an internal audit department that, among other things, is responsible for objectively reviewing and evaluating the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s system of internal controls, including controls relating to financial reporting reliability. The internal audit department reports directly to the Audit Committee and, for administrative purposes, to the Company’s Chief Financial Officer.

2018 Audit Committee Activities

Following a formal evaluation by the Audit Committee and by the Company’s management of the performance of Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”), the Audit Committee appointed Deloitte to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2018. The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management and Deloitte the Company’s quarterly and audited annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018. The Audit Committee also reviewed the report of management contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 (the “2018 Form 10-K”), as well as Deloitte’s Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm included in the 2018 Form 10-K related to its audit of the consolidated financial statements. The Audit Committee met privately with Deloitte and discussed issues deemed significant by Deloitte. The Audit Committee also discussed with Deloitte the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standard No. 16 (Communications with Audit Committees), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”).

During the course of 2018, the Audit Committee also oversaw management’s evaluation of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The principal internal auditor and management documented, tested and evaluated the Company’s internal control over financial reporting system in accordance with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related regulations. The Audit Committee was kept apprised of the progress of the evaluation and provided oversight and advice during the process. In connection with this oversight, the Audit Committee received periodic updates provided by the principal internal auditor, management and Deloitte at least

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quarterly at an Audit Committee meeting. Upon completion of the evaluation, the principal internal auditor and management reported to the Audit Committee regarding the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with Deloitte its Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm included in the 2018 Form 10-K related to its audit of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee continues to oversee the Company’s efforts related to its internal control over financial reporting.

In addition, the Audit Committee has received from Deloitte the written disclosures and the letter required by PCAOB Rule 3526 (Communications with Audit Committees Concerning Independence) and has discussed with Deloitte its independence. The Audit Committee actively engaged in a dialogue with Deloitte with respect to any disclosed relationships or services that might affect Deloitte’s objectivity and independence.

Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the Company’s audited financial statements be included in the 2018 Form 10-K for filing with the SEC.

MEMBERS OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

Samuel H. Armacost (Chair) | Ronald S. Beard | Russell L. Fleischer

John F. Lundgren | Adebayo O. Ogunlesi | Anthony S. Thornley

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INFORMATION CONCERNING INDEPENDENT

REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Fees of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The following table shows the fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP for the years ended December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

None of the fees listed above were approved by the Audit Committee in reliance on a waiver from pre-approval under Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X.

Policy for Preapproval of Auditor Fees and Services

The Audit Committee has adopted a policy that it must preapprove all audit and non-audit services to be performed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm before the firm is engaged to perform the services. The Audit Committee must also preapprove the estimated fees for such services, as well as any material change to the terms, conditions or fees related thereto. The Audit Committee will only preapprove those services that would not impair the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm and only those audit-related, tax or non-audit services that are consistent with the SEC’s and PCAOB’s rules on auditor independence. The policy specifically provides that the following non-audit services will not be preapproved: (i) bookkeeping or other services related to the Company’s accounting records or financial statements, (ii) financial information systems design and implementation, (iii) appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions or contribution-in-kind reports, (iv) actuarial services, (v) internal audit outsourcing services, (vi) management functions, (vii) human resources, (viii) broker-dealer, investment adviser or investment banking services, (ix) legal services and (x) expert services unrelated to an audit for the purpose of advocating the Company’s interests in litigation or in a regulatory or administrative proceeding or investigation.

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The Audit Committee has delegated to the Audit Committee Chair the authority (within specified limits) to preapprove services consistent with the policy if it is not practical to wait until the next Audit Committee meeting to seek such approval. The Audit Committee Chair must report any services it preapproves to the Audit Committee at its next meeting.

Under the policy, the Audit Committee at least annually will review and where appropriate preapprove the services expected to be performed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Any subsequent request to have the independent registered public accounting firm perform any additional services must be submitted to the Audit Committee by the Company’s Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer, together with the independent registered public accounting firm, and must include an affirmation that the provision of such services is consistent with the SEC’s and PCAOB’s rules on auditor independence.

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PROPOSAL NO. 2 - RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT

OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee, which is comprised entirely of independent directors, has appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019. This appointment was made following the Audit Committee’s formal evaluation of Deloitte’s performance in 2018. Deloitte has served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm since December 2002. Information concerning the services performed by Deloitte and the fees for such services for 2018 and 2017 are set forth under “Information Concerning Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm—Fees of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm,” above. Deloitte representatives are expected to attend the Annual Meeting and to be available to respond to appropriate questions, and if they desire, will have the opportunity to make a statement.

The Audit Committee and the Board seek shareholder ratification of the Audit Committee’s appointment of Deloitte as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019 and to audit the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Ratification of this appointment is not required to be submitted to shareholders. However, such ratification is being sought as a matter of good corporate governance. If the shareholders do not ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee will reconsider it. Because the Audit Committee is directly responsible for appointing the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, however, the ultimate decision to retain or appoint Deloitte in the future as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm will be made by the Audit Committee based upon the best interests of the Company at that time.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

COMPENSATION AND MANAGEMENT SUCCESSION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation and Management Succession Committee (“Compensation Committee”) reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K. Based on such review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” be included in this Proxy Statement for filing with the SEC.

COMPENSATION AND MANAGEMENT SUCCESSION COMMITTEE

John F. Lundgren (Chair) | Samuel H. Armacost

Ronald S. Beard | John C. Cushman, III |

Linda B. Segre

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Introduction

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) is designed to provide shareholders with an understanding of the Company’s compensation philosophy and objectives as well as the analysis that the Company performed in setting executive compensation for 2018. The Board has delegated to the Compensation Committee the general responsibility for oversight of the Company’s compensation philosophy, policies and programs, including those applicable to the Company’s named executive officers (“NEOs”). This CD&A discusses the Compensation Committee’s determination of how and why, in addition to what, compensation actions were taken during 2018 for the NEOs. The NEOs, as determined in accordance with SEC rules, for 2018 were:

Investors are encouraged to read this CD&A in conjunction with the compensation tables and related notes, which include more detailed information about the compensation of the NEOs for 2018. See “2018 Compensation Tables,” below.

Overview¹

Corporate 2018 Performance and Business Environment. On a financial, strategic and operational performance basis, 2018 was a very strong year for the Company. The Company not only

¹ Non-GAAP Information. In order to assist interested parties with period-over-period comparisons on a consistent and comparable basis, the discussion set forth in this section provides certain non-GAAP information regarding the Company’s financial results, including net income, diluted earnings per share and earnings before interest, taxes, and depreciation and amortization expenses, adjusted for, in 2017, the non-recurring transaction and transition-related expenses of the OGIO and travisMathew acquisitions in 2017 and the non-recurring impacts of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and other tax adjustments; and for 2018, the non-recurring transaction expenses for the Jack Wolfskin acquisition. This non-GAAP information may include non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G. Appendix A to this Proxy Statement includes a reconciliation of such non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

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achieved record net sales and operating income, but also continued executing its strategy of investing in growth opportunities in golf and in areas tangential to golf, including continuing to capitalize on the Company’s recent acquisitions. In January 2017, the Company acquired OGIO International, Inc. This acquisition both enhanced the Company’s presence in golf and provided a platform for growth in the active lifestyle category. In August 2017, the Company acquired travisMathew, LLC., a dynamic golf and lifestyle apparel company. This acquisition expanded the Company’s presence in the apparel category. In early 2019, the Company further added to the size and complexity of its operations, brand and product portfolio with the acquisition of Jack Wolfskin, a German-based premium outdoor and active lifestyle brand.

Some specific 2018 highlights include:

Overview of 2018 Executive Compensation Decisions. Set forth below is a summary of certain compensation-related decisions the Company made during 2018 and early 2019, and the status of certain compensation practices:

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Compensation Best Practices. In 2018 and early 2019, the Company continued the following compensation practices:

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Purpose of Executive Compensation Programs

Callaway Golf Company is a publicly traded corporation engaged in the manufacture and sale of golf clubs and golf balls; the sale of other golf-related products, including golf bags, footwear and accessories; and golf and lifestyle apparel, backpacks and other gear. The Company has operations in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Korea, Australia, China, India and other regions, and directly, or indirectly through third party distributors, sells its products in over 100 countries worldwide. In 2017, the Company added to the size and complexity of its operations, brand and product portfolio with the addition of the OGIO and travisMathew brands. In early 2019, the Company further expanded its operations by acquiring Jack Wolfskin. Within this context, the Board must recruit and appoint highly qualified individuals to serve as the Company’s executive officers to oversee and manage the Company’s complex global operations. The purpose of the Company’s executive compensation program is to attract, retain, motivate and appropriately reward these executive officers and to align their interests with those of the Company’s shareholders by incentivizing the executive officers to operate the Company in a manner that creates shareholder value.

Guiding Principles for Executive Compensation

In developing appropriate executive compensation programs, the Compensation Committee is generally guided by the following principles:

Compensation levels should be sufficiently competitive to attract and retain the executive talent needed. The Company’s overall compensation levels are targeted to attract the management talent needed to achieve and maintain a leadership position in the businesses where the Company chooses to compete. As discussed below under “—The Role of the Compensation Committee—The Role of Peer Companies and Benchmarking,” the Company does not target or position compensation at a specific percentile relative to market data. Instead, given the complexity and competitiveness of the Company’s business, as well as the high cost of living in the San Diego area where its principal offices are located, this information is used as a general guide in setting and assessing executive compensation levels and practices.

A significant portion of total compensation should be related to performance. Executive compensation should be linked to Company and individual performance. The annual incentive compensation element is tied directly to short-term corporate performance but the final payout may be affected by individual performance, and a majority of the long-term incentive compensation element is tied to corporate performance. Over time, there is a strong correlation between the Company’s long-term performance and the Company’s stock price. Under the Company’s plans, performance above targeted goals generally results in compensation above targeted levels, and performance below targeted goals generally results in compensation below targeted levels.

Compensation should reflect position and responsibility, and incentive compensation should be a greater proportion of total compensation for more senior positions. Total compensation should generally increase with position and responsibility. At the same time, a greater percentage of total compensation should be tied to corporate and individual performance, and therefore at risk, as position and responsibility increases. Accordingly, individuals with greater roles and responsibility for achieving the Company’s performance targets should bear a greater proportion of the risk that those goals are not achieved and should receive a greater proportion of the reward if goals are met or surpassed.

Incentive compensation should strike a balance between short-term and long-term performance. The Company’s compensation plans focus management on achieving strong annual performance in a manner that supports the Company’s long-term success and profitability. Accordingly, the Company uses both annual incentives and long-term incentives, with the proportion of long-term incentives increasing at higher levels of responsibility where individuals have the greatest influence over the Company’s strategic direction and results over time.

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A significant portion of executive compensation should be stock-based. In order to further align the interests of the Company’s executive officers with those of the Company’s shareholders, the Compensation Committee believes that a significant portion of executive compensation should be stock-based compensation. The executive officers are also subject to stock ownership guidelines which require the executive officers to own a specified minimum amount of Common Stock interests and hold a portion of the shares of Common Stock received from the long-term incentive awards if not in compliance with the guidelines.

The Compensation Committee uses various resources to guide its compensation decisions. In setting compensation, the Compensation Committee works with the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President of Global Human Resources. In addition, the Compensation Committee has engaged an outside independent compensation consultant to provide independent advice and information on executive compensation matters. See “—The Compensation Committee’s Role—The Independent Compensation Consultant’s Role,” below.

The Compensation Committee’s Role

The Board has delegated to the Compensation Committee the general responsibility for oversight of the Company’s compensation philosophy, policies and programs, including those applicable to the NEOs.

The Compensation Committee, comprised entirely of independent directors, has the responsibility for, among other things, approving and overseeing the Company’s executive compensation programs, including the design and implementation of those programs to ensure that the programs are reasonable and not excessive, that they reward corporate and individual performance, and that they provide appropriate incentives for the executive officers and do not encourage excessive risk taking. This responsibility includes setting base salaries, developing appropriate short-term and long-term incentives, approving stock-based award plans and grants, approving employment agreements (including severance and change-in-control provisions), and approving other compensation or benefit plans, arrangements and agreements applicable to executive officers.

The Compensation Committee, in consultation with the other independent directors, sets the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer, and the Compensation Committee, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, sets the compensation of the other executive officers. The Compensation Committee consults with outside compensation advisors and legal counsel as it deems appropriate.

The Compensation Committee reviews the performance of the executive officers. The review includes a detailed comparison of the Company’s financial performance in absolute terms and against its annual operating plan, a review of performance against stipulated metrics and performance criteria in various compensation plans, a review of the respective executive’s accomplishments including performance against any agreed-upon objectives, and any other relevant factors pertinent to that year’s results as discussed below. In the case of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, the review also includes a written evaluation of his performance by the independent directors based upon a review of the Chief Executive Officer’s agreed-upon annual objectives and accomplishments as well as his self-appraisal of his performance. The Compensation Committee also seeks input from the Chief Executive Officer’s direct reports as appropriate. Following this detailed review, all of the independent directors participate in executive session to review this information and provide input to the Compensation Committee in its consideration of any changes in compensation for the Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Brewer is not present during voting or deliberations by the independent directors regarding his own compensation.

The Compensation Committee routinely reviews the Company’s executive compensation programs and makes modifications as appropriate in light of Company and industry dynamics as well as current trends and best practices. The amounts paid to an individual executive in any given year reflect the Company’s current compensation programs, continuing prior commitments under previous programs or contracts, and the current performance of that executive.

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Additional information concerning the Compensation Committee’s responsibilities can be found under the section entitled “Board of Directors and Corporate Governance—Board Committees,” above.

The Chief Executive Officer’s Role

At the Compensation Committee’s request, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Brewer, provides input regarding the performance and appropriate compensation of the Company’s other executive officers. The Compensation Committee considers Mr. Brewer’s evaluation of the other executive officers because of his direct knowledge of each executive officer’s performance and contributions. The Compensation Committee sets the compensation of the Company’s other executive officers after considering Mr. Brewer’s input.

The Independent Compensation Consultant’s Role

The Compensation Committee selects and retains the services of its own independent compensation consultant and annually reviews the performance of the selected consultant. As part of the review process, the Compensation Committee considers the independence of the consultant in accordance with applicable SEC and NYSE rules.

In 2018, the Compensation Committee engaged Mercer LLC as its compensation consultant to provide independent advice and information on executive compensation matters. Mercer representatives report directly to the Compensation Committee and provide comparative market data, information on compensation trends, and an objective view of compensation matters. Mercer representatives generally interact with the Compensation Committee Chair and with senior management at the direction of the Compensation Committee, attend Compensation Committee meetings, and meet in executive session with Compensation Committee members and, for matters relating to the compensation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, with the other independent directors as well.

The Company does not use Mercer for any other purpose, except that the Company occasionally purchases broad industry compensation survey data from Mercer that it makes available for third parties to purchase. The Compensation Committee requires that the Company obtain the committee’s approval prior to engaging Mercer for any other purpose. The Compensation Committee has reviewed an assessment of any potential conflicts of interest raised by Mercer’s work for the Compensation Committee, which assessment considered the following six factors: (i) the provision of other services to the Company by Mercer and its affiliates; (ii) the amount of fees received from the Company by Mercer and its affiliates, as a percentage of Mercer’s and its affiliates’ total revenue; (iii) the policies and procedures of Mercer that are designed to prevent conflicts of interest; (iv) any business or personal relationship of the Mercer consultant with a member of the Compensation Committee; (v) any Company stock owned by the Mercer consultants; and (vi) any business or personal relationship of the Mercer consultant or Mercer and its affiliates with any of the Company’s executive officers. The Committee assessed Mercer’s independence in light of these standards and determined that there were no conflict of interest or independence concerns with respect to Mercer. The Compensation Committee also receives advice from legal counsel as appropriate and conducts a review of the same six factors with regard to the outside legal counsel providing such advice.

The Role of Peer Companies and Benchmarking

In determining the reasonableness and competitiveness of the Company’s executive officer compensation, the Compensation Committee periodically reviews market data for comparisons to the Company’s programs. These comparisons are used as reference guides to aid the Compensation Committee in assessing the reasonableness of the Company’s proposed compensation levels and targets in any given year. Depending upon the particular issue or circumstance, the Compensation Committee will use (i) summary broad industry survey data (without disclosure of the individual corporations) from Radford, Equilar and Mercer for companies of similar revenue size as the Company and/or (ii) a small predetermined group of corporations in the leisure equipment and products and textiles, apparel and luxury goods industries (the “Compensation Comparison Group”).

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The Compensation Comparison Group consists of companies that are similar in revenue size to, and have similar business characteristics as, the Company. In addition, the Company often competes for executive talent with corporations outside the golf industry, and the complexity of the Company’s operations, brand and product portfolio continues to expand. The Compensation Committee therefore compares executive compensation levels to companies in similar industries. The Compensation Comparison Group is reviewed periodically as warranted and revised as appropriate to ensure that the companies in the group continue to be a reasonable comparison for compensation purposes.

The companies included in the Compensation Comparison Group were changed in 2018, as recommended by the Company’s outside independent compensation consultant. Changes to the Compensation Comparison Group included the removal of three companies that were in purchase discussions, were experiencing financial distress, or had fallen outside the general parameters used for selection of representative companies. Specifically, Perry Ellis International, Inc., Jakks Pacific, Inc., and Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. were removed from the group. These were replaced by two new companies within a similar revenue range and with similar industry characteristics, Wolverine Worldwide, Inc., and Fitbit, Inc. The revised Compensation Comparison Group adopted in 2018 was comprised of 12 companies that were approximately 0.5 to 2.0 times the Company’s 2018 revenue:

The Compensation Committee reviews broad industry survey data and the compensation practices and program design at peer companies, including those in the Compensation Comparison Group, to inform its decision-making process in setting compensation. The Company, however, does not target or position compensation at a specific percentile relative to this market data. The Compensation Committee’s executive compensation determinations are subjective and the result of the Compensation Committee’s business judgment, which is informed by the experiences of the members of the Compensation Committee, market data, and input provided by, the Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consultant.

Consideration of Say-on-Pay Vote Results

The Board and the Compensation Committee value the feedback provided by the Company’s shareholders and have discussions with shareholders regarding various corporate governance topics, including executive compensation. Shareholders are provided with the opportunity to cast an annual advisory vote on executive compensation. At the Company’s 2018 and 2017 annual meetings of shareholders, shareholders expressed approval of the executive compensation program with approximately 98% of the shares cast being voted for approval of the compensation of the NEOs in each such prior year.

The Compensation Committee considers the outcome of the say-on-pay votes and other shareholder feedback when designing future compensation programs. In light of the strong shareholder support of our executive compensation program over the past two years, no additional significant changes were made to our executive compensation program in 2018 as a result of the say-on-pay vote results from the previous year and the Compensation Committee determined to continue the general design of the executive compensation program from 2017.

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Components of the 2018 Executive Compensation Program

The 2018 executive compensation program had three elements of total direct compensation: base salary, annual incentives and long-term incentives, which are summarized in the table below. The Company also provides NEOs with perquisites and benefits, as described below. Each element of total direct compensation is intended to reward and motivate executives in different ways consistent with the Company’s overall guiding principles for compensation described above. Mercer advised the Compensation Committee that the 2018 executive compensation program was generally consistent with the Compensation Committee’s guiding principles and was reasonably based and not excessive under the circumstances. The Compensation Committee intends to continue working with Mercer to ensure the Company’s compensation practices continue to be aligned with shareholder interests and with evolving best practices.

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The amount of total direct compensation intended to come from each element varies with position and level of responsibility, reflecting the principles that total compensation should increase with position and responsibility and that a greater percentage of an executive’s compensation should be performance based, and therefore at risk, as position and responsibility increase.

Consistent with the Company’s compensation philosophy, the 2018 executive compensation program incorporated a balance between guaranteed and at-risk compensation, a balance between cash and stock-based compensation, and a balance between short-term and long-term compensation. In 2018, (i) approximately 53% of the Chief Executive Officer’s targeted total direct compensation, and approximately 42% to 45% of the targeted total direct compensation for each of the other NEOs, was comprised of short-term and long-term incentives that were subject to corporate and individual performance and therefore at risk (annual non-equity incentive plan compensation and PRSUs) and (ii) approximately 67% of the Chief Executive Officer’s targeted total direct compensation, and approximately 34% to 42% of the targeted total direct compensation for the other NEOs, was provided in the form of long-term, stock-based compensation (PRSUs and RSUs).

Base Salary

In setting the amount of base salaries, the Compensation Committee reviews the complexity of the job requirements and performance expectations, the market data described above, including, as warranted, information from the Compensation Comparison Group, and consults with its independent compensation consultant. The annualized base salaries of the NEOs during 2018 and 2017 and the percentage of increase between the two years are set forth in the table below. The increases were merit based and were made after a review of individual performance and relevant competitive market data and reflect these factors as well as recognition of the continued increases in market share and profitability.

(1) Mr. Brewer’s base salary increase of 6.3% in early 2018 reflected his performance and the additional responsibilities associated with the acquisitions of travisMathew and OGIO in 2017.

(2) Mr. Lynch’s base salary increase of 12.5% in early 2018 reflected his performance during his first full year as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and also as the Company’s General Counsel, and the additional responsibilities associated with the acquisitions of travisMathew and OGIO in 2017.

Annual Incentive

Overview

The annual incentive bonus serves as the short-term incentive compensation element of the executive compensation program. The bonus is at-risk, with payment based upon designated corporate goals and individual performance. The bonus is intended to provide an incentive for an executive to drive a high level of corporate and individual performance without excessive risk taking. The payout of annual bonuses to executive officers is subject to the Compensation Committee’s approval following its review and assessment of corporate and of individual performance.

Bonus Pool Funding

In 2018, the Company accrued a maximum pool of funds to be used for the bonus payouts to the executive officers under the annual incentive program. The amount of the bonus pool was determined based upon the Company’s performance in 2018. The funding formula, which provided

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funding to cover the maximum bonuses payable to each eligible executive officer, was the aggregate of the following for each of the executive officers:

The 150% individual performance modifier was intended to provide funding to allow for a modest level of discretion to recognize exceptional individual performance. The Compensation Committee may adjust funding downward to result in an individual executive’s final payout based on performance against agreed-upon objectives (or other performance during the year not anticipated at the beginning of the year when objectives are set). The final payout amount cannot exceed 200% of the executive’s target bonus percentage regardless of performance.

How Bonus Opportunity and Payout is Determined

Base Salary. The amount of an executive officer’s annual incentive bonus is generally based upon the level of achievement of the corporate performance metric as well as individual performance and accomplishments for the applicable year, including the degree to which predetermined regional or department goals are achieved. The base salary component of the formula is the executive’s 2018 annualized base salary.

Target Bonus. The target bonus percentage, which the Compensation Committee sets each year, is a percentage of the executive’s base salary and is the amount the executive could earn based upon the corporate performance portion of the bonus assuming the Company achieved its target goals and the executive achieved his individual objectives and otherwise met performance expectations. The target bonus percentages for 2018 were based on each executive’s position and were set to be generally consistent with market data and the range of total direct compensation that the Compensation Committee targets for the NEOs. The 2018 target bonus percentage for each NEO was unchanged from 2017. The target bonus percentages for 2018 are set out in the table under “—2018 Annual Incentive Payouts” below. As discussed below, the actual bonus payouts for each executive can vary from zero to 200% of such executive’s target bonus percentage.

EBITDA Modifier. Adjusted EBITDA was chosen as the corporate performance metric for 2018 because the primary objective for 2018 was sustaining the Company’s earnings growth and increasing liquidity. In addition, many of the Company’s investors value the Company based upon multiples of EBITDA. The 2018 adjusted EBITDA performance goals were set at threshold, target and maximum levels by the Compensation Committee in January 2018. In setting these goals, the Compensation Committee considered the Company’s 2017 performance, the Company’s 2018 operational goals, and the 2018 budget. Prior to approving the goals, the Compensation Committee discussed them with management and with its outside compensation consultant.

The threshold, target and maximum adjusted EBITDA performance goals for 2018 were $106.7 million, $116.6 million, and $126.3 million, respectively. No annual incentive bonus is paid unless the threshold performance goal is achieved. The target performance goal was consistent with the Company’s budget for 2018 and approximately 121% greater than the 2017 target performance goal. The 2018 target goal reflected both an anticipated increase in sales in 2018 as well as the significant positive effect the 2017 acquisitions travisMathew and OGIO were expected to have on the Company’s business. The EBITDA Modifier is capped even if performance exceeds the maximum goals.

Potential payouts attributable to the EBITDA modifier are determined based on the EBITDA performance level achieved and are interpolated on a straight line basis for achievement between the

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threshold, target and maximum performance goals. The table below shows the relationship between the performance goals and the EBITDA modifier for purposes of determining the potential payout:

Individual Performance Modifier. The individual performance modifier is for funding purposes only and is applied after the calculation of the EBITDA modifier. It is fixed at 150% to allow for the Compensation Committee to exercise negative discretion from the maximum individual funded payout levels to arrive at the final payout for the executive. In making its determination of the final bonus for a particular executive, the Compensation Committee considers the executive’s individual performance and accomplishments, and other than with respect to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Executive Officer’s recommendation.

2018 Annual Incentive Payouts

The Company achieved Adjusted EBITDA of $154.9 million for 2018, which represents a 55% increase over 2017 Adjusted EBITDA. 2018 Adjusted EBITDA exceeded the maximum performance goal under the terms of the bonus plan. However, the EBITDA modifier was capped at 150% for each of the NEOs.

In determining the final recommended bonus of each NEO, the Compensation Committee considered the exceptional 2018 financial and market share performance of the Company’s core business, and the assessment of each NEO’s strong individual performance toward the expansion of the Company beyond the core business operations. The Compensation Committee believed that the individual performance of each NEO was strong in 2018, resulting in a $194 million, or 19%, increase in net sales in 2018 compared to 2017; a 70 basis point increase in gross margin in 2018 compared to 2017, a $50 million, or 63%, increase in operating income in 2018 compared to 2017; expanded market opportunities for the Company; total shareholder return in 2018 of 10%; and other achievements, including those listed above under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Overview—Corporate 2018 Performance and Business Environment.” In light of the foregoing, the Compensation Committee recommended for Mr. Brewer, and the Board approved, a bonus of $1,700,000, which is equal to 200% of the target amount for Mr. Brewer. Based upon an assessment of individual performance and accomplishments in 2018, along with the exceptional overall corporate performance, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer recommended, and the Compensation Committee approved, 200% maximum bonus payouts for all other NEOs. (Also summarized in the table below).

The table below provides the actual bonus amounts reflecting the results from the application of the formulas above:

(1) Bonuses are capped at 200% of target.

² Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of Regulation G. Appendix A to this Proxy Statement includes a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

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Long-Term Incentive

Overview

Consistent with the Compensation Committee’s goal of aligning executive compensation with long-term Company performance and with the Compensation Committee’s guiding principle that a majority of the long-term incentives should be performance-based and that all should be equity-based, the Compensation Committee determined to award PRSUs and RSUs to the NEOs in 2018.

These awards were designed to motivate our executives to remain with the Company, achieve strong long-term operational performance and increase shareholder value. PRSUs tie executives to the interests of shareholders by focusing and rewarding our executives for achievement of key financial objectives that link to the creation of shareholder value. RSUs provide a retention incentive as they vest solely based upon continued service and upon vesting provide an ownership stake in the Company. They also further align the interests of the executives with those of the Company’s shareholders as the executives generally have the same long-term economic benefits and risks as those of a shareholder.

All executive officer awards in 2018 were made under the Callaway Golf Company Amended and Restated 2004 Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Equity Plan”). The 2018 awards granted to the NEOs were approved on January 31, 2018 and were granted on February 9, 2018.

How the Awards are Determined

For each of the NEOs, the Compensation Committee sets a targeted long-term incentive award value. The targeted value for all of the Company’s officers generally varies by position and responsibility and is reviewed annually. In setting the targeted value, the Compensation Committee generally consults with its independent compensation consultant and periodically compares the targeted value to applicable market data, including broad industry data and, as warranted, data from the Compensation Comparison Group. It also considers the effect the long-term incentive element would have upon the executive’s total direct compensation.

The Compensation Committee then allocates the targeted long-term incentive award value between PRSUs and RSUs. The mix of the awards was intended to align with the Company’s philosophy that a majority of the long-term incentive awards for senior executives should be performance based. The target number of shares underlying the PRSUs and the number of shares underlying the RSUs is determined by multiplying the targeted long-term incentive award value by 55% and 45%, respectively, and dividing that number by the average closing price of the Common Stock for the 20-trading days immediately preceding the date on which the Compensation Committee approves the awards. A 20-trading day average price, as opposed to a single price on the approval date, is used to mitigate the potential impact of single trading day aberrations on the number of shares granted.

The table below sets forth the targeted long-term incentive value, the “target” number of PRSUs and the number of RSUs for each of the NEOs for 2018:

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Other than with respect to Messrs. Brewer and Lynch, the 2018 targeted long-term incentive value for all of the NEOs was unchanged from 2017. Following a review of the Company’s performance, a discussion of Mr. Brewer’s leadership and contribution to that performance, as well as applicable market compensation data, Mr. Brewer received a targeted long-term incentive award of $3,500,000 in 2018, as compared to $3,000,000 in 2017. The increase reflects the Compensation Committee’s recognition of Mr. Brewer’s role in the significant improvement in the Company’s operating performance as well as an incentive to drive further improvements going forward. Mr. Lynch’s targeted long-term incentive award was increased to $450,000 in 2018 from $350,000 in 2017. The increase reflects Mr. Lynch’s 2017 promotion to the role of Chief Financial Officer, and consideration of applicable market compensation data for this new role.

How the Awards Vest

Both RSUs and PRSUs are contingent rights to receive one share of Common Stock upon vesting of the applicable award.

RSUs. The RSUs granted in 2018 vest and the restrictions lapse in three equal annual installments commencing on the one-year anniversary of the grant date, subject to continued employment through each applicable vesting date. This schedule means that, to receive the full benefit of the RSUs, the recipient must generally perform three years of continuous service following the grant date.

PRSUs.

The PRSUs granted in 2018 are subject to both performance-based and service-based vesting. The Company’s performance relative to currency neutral adjusted EPS will be measured over a three-year performance period beginning January 1, 2018 and ending December 31, 2020. The number of shares earned may vary from zero to 200% of the target number of shares underlying the PRSUs depending on the Company’s currency neutral adjusted EPS performance during this three-year period. A portion of the total award may be “banked” at the end of each interim year based on cumulative currency neutral adjusted EPS achievement during the interim performance period relative to the threshold, target and maximum levels established by the Compensation Committee in January 2018. However, final vesting of the PRSUs will not occur until the end of the three-year performance period and will be subject to continued employment through that date. Banked awards cannot be decreased based on performance in subsequent years. In addition, banked awards during the first year of the three-year performance period are capped at 50% of the “target” award, and cumulative banked awards after the second year of the three-year performance period are capped at 80% of the “target” award, which equates to 40% of the maximum award. As such, vesting above these levels can only be achieved if the Company’s performance is at or above the three-year target performance goal.

The extent to which PRSUs are eligible to vest is determined based on the performance level achieved and are interpolated on a straight line basis for achievement between the threshold, target and maximum performance goals. Performance below the threshold performance goal results in no PRSUs being eligible to vest. If the Compensation Committee determines that vesting of the PRSUs is accelerated in connection with a change in control prior to the completion of the performance period for the performance metric pursuant to the terms of the PRSU agreements, the value of the PRSUs will vest upon closure and be paid out at the target performance level.

In accordance with the terms of the plan, in evaluating the Company’s performance against the applicable goals, the Compensation Committee excluded certain non-recurring items, including the following: (i) the $0.11 per share gain on the sale of a portion of the Company’s investment in Topgolf International, Inc. in 2016, (ii) the non-cash benefit of $1.63 per share from the reversal of the Company’s deferred tax valuation allowance in 2016, (iii) the non-cash net tax expense of $0.04 per share in 2017 as a result of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and (iv) the non-recurring transaction and transition expenses of $0.07 per share related to the OGIO and travisMathew acquisitions in 2017 and $0.01 per share benefit in 2018 related to the Jack Wolfskin acquisition. In addition, to eliminate the

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non-recurring tax benefits resulting from the reversal of the deferred tax valuation allowance in 2016 and from the unexpected 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act reduction in tax rates compared to the rates used to set the performance goals, the Compensation Committee used the budgeted tax rates that were used at the time the performance goals were set for the 2016-2018 and 2017-2019 plans.

For the 2016-2018 LTIP awards, the cumulative threshold, target, and maximum currency neutral adjusted EPS objectives for the full three-year performance period ending December 31, 2018 were $0.45 (threshold), $0.75 (target), and $1.05 (maximum). For the cumulative actual performance during the performance period, the Company exceeded the maximum currency neutral adjusted EPS objective, with final cumulative currency neutral adjusted EPS results of $1.60. On January 31, 2019, the Compensation Committee determined that, based on these results, the maximum 200% of the target 2016-2018 PRSUs were earned, and these units vested in February 2019.

For the 2017-2019 LTIP awards, the cumulative threshold and target currency neutral adjusted EPS objectives for the two year period ending December 31, 2018 that would result in up to 80% of the award being banked were $0.32 (threshold) and $0.45 (target). For the two year period ending December 31, 2018, the Company exceeded the target currency neutral adjusted EPS, with cumulative currency neutral adjusted EPS results of $1.06. On January 31, 2019, the Compensation Committee determined that, based on these results, 80% of the target 2017-2019 PRSUs were deemed to be banked under the terms of these PRSUs and these banked units will vest on the third anniversary of the grant date, subject to continued employment through the vesting date.

For the 2018-2020 LTIP awards, the threshold and target currency neutral adjusted EPS objectives for 2018 that would result in up to 50% of the award being banked were $0.59 (threshold) and $0.67 (target). For 2018, the Company exceeded the target currency neutral adjusted EPS, with cumulative currency neutral adjusted EPS results of $0.96. On January 31, 2019, the Compensation Committee determined that, based on such results, 50% of the target 2018-2020 PRSUs were deemed to be banked under the terms of the PRSUs and these banked units will vest on the third anniversary of the grant date, subject to continued employment through the vesting date.

These “banked” PRSUs from both the 2017–2019 and 2018–2020 LTIP awards are reported in the “Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested” column of the “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal-Year End 2018 Table.” Each NEO remains eligible to vest in the remaining PRSUs reflected in the original awards (up to a total of 200% of the “target” PRSUs) subject to the Company’s currency neutral adjusted EPS achievement during the remainder of the respective performance periods (and subject to additional potential “banking” following the completion of each interim performance year). The number of PRSUs in which a NEO remains eligible to vest is reported in the “Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested” column of the “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal-Year End 2018 Table.” See “2018 Compensation Tables—Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal-Year End 2018 Table” below.

Approval and Timing of Grants

The Compensation Committee has adopted specific guidelines that govern the approval and timing of stock-based awards. The guidelines provide that (i) all equity award grants shall be approved by the Compensation Committee (or authorized subcommittee thereof) under the authority delegated to it by the Company’s Board of Directors, (ii) the annual equity award grants shall be approved at a regularly-scheduled or special meeting of the Compensation Committee during the first quarter each year prior to the Company’s earnings release announcing the financial results for the most recently completed fiscal year, to be effective as of the second trading day following the issuance of the earnings release, (iii) equity award grants that are made outside the annual award process relating to a promotion or other special circumstances shall be effective as of the date on which approval is obtained, and (iv) equity award grants that are made outside the annual award process to a new hire shall be approved at a regularly-scheduled or special meeting of the Compensation Committee (or authorized subcommittee) prior to the date employee commences employment with the Company or

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the first regularly scheduled meeting of the Compensation Committee (or authorized subcommittee) following the date of hire. The new hire awards shall be effective (i) on the date of hire if the approval of the awards occurred prior to the date of hire or (ii) as of the date on which approval is obtained if the approval of the awards occurred subsequent to the date of hire. The Compensation Committee’s (or authorized subcommittee’s) approval includes the eligible participants, type of awards, the size of award for each participant, the performance criteria where applicable, as well as the other terms of the awards and program. Equity award grants may be approved by written consent in limited special circumstances. In accordance with these guidelines, the 2018 annual long-term incentive awards for the NEOs were approved by the Compensation Committee on January 31, 2018 and the awards were granted on February 9, 2018. The average closing price of the Common Stock for the 20-trading days immediately preceding the date of approval by the Compensation Committee of these awards was $14.32 and on the date of grant was $14.80.

Dividend Equivalents

None of the PRSUs include dividend equivalents. Unvested RSUs granted to all of the Company’s employees, including the NEOs, have dividend equivalents in the form of additional RSUs. Dividend equivalents entitle holders of RSUs to the same dividend value per share as holders of Common Stock but are accrued in additional RSUs. Dividend equivalents are subject to the same vesting and other terms and conditions as the corresponding unvested RSUs. The additional RSUs accrued in respect of dividends are accumulated and issued when and to the extent the underlying RSUs vest.

Benefits and Perquisites

Various benefits are established for the NEOs to enhance productivity, provide for healthcare needs, and encourage work/life balance. Consistent with the benefits provided to other employees, the Company’s primary benefits for executives include the Company’s health, dental and vision plans, and various insurance plans, including life, long-term disability, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, as well as paid time off. The Company covers the costs of an annual physical, the costs of tax and estate planning fees, and, consistent with the Company’s position as a leader in the golf industry, many executives are provided subsidized country club memberships or a limited amount of green fee reimbursements and a limited amount of the Company’s products. The Company from time to time provides other benefits to employees or officers as a group or to an individual officer as warranted. See the “2018 Compensation Tables—2018 Summary Compensation Table,” below for additional information about the value of benefits and perquisites provided to the NEOs in 2018.

Retirement Plans

The Company does not provide the executive officers with any defined benefit pension plans or supplemental executive retirement plans (SERPs), or other similar types of retirement benefits. The only retirement benefit the Company currently provides the NEOs is the right to participate in the Company’s 401(k) Retirement Investment Plan. This retirement benefit is provided to all Company employees and the NEOs’ right to participate is the same as other Company employees.

The Company’s 401(k) plan allows participants to contribute a portion of their compensation into the plan with the Company providing a matching contribution up to 3% of the participant’s compensation (subject to a maximum matching contribution of up to $8,250 in 2018). The funds held in the 401(k) plan are invested through Vanguard in various funds selected by the participant.

Deferred Compensation Plan

In December 2016, the Company adopted the Callaway Golf Company Deferred Compensation Plan (the “DCP”). The DCP was intended to help build a supplemental source of savings and retirement income through pre-tax deferrals of eligible compensation, which included base

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salary, annual cash bonus awards, sign-on cash bonus awards, commissions, long term cash incentive compensation, stock unit awards and/or any other payments designated as eligible for deferral under the DCP from time to time. Effective November 2017, as a result of minimal participation, and expressed lack of future interest in additional participation by eligible employees, and in consideration of the administrative cost and time requirements necessary to support the DCP long-term, the DCP was terminated. As a result of this action, no further deferral opportunities will be provided. Any deferrals will be distributed to the participants no earlier than 12 months, and no later than 24 months, following the termination of the DCP in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

Employees at a vice president level or above were eligible to participate in the DCP. Mr. Brewer was the only NEO currently employed by the Company who elected to make deferrals under the DCP. Under the DCP, the Company provided participants with the opportunity to make annual elections to defer a specified percentage of up to 80% of their eligible cash compensation and up to 100% of their stock unit awards. No deferrals of cash compensation were made under the DCP. Elective deferrals of stock unit awards are credited to a bookkeeping account established in the name of the participant with respect to an equivalent number of shares of Common Stock, and such credited shares are subject to the same vesting conditions as are applicable to the stock unit award subject to the election.

At the time of deferral, deferrals of stock unit awards under the DCP are deemed rights to receive an issuance of Common Stock and may not be deemed allocated to any investment fund.

Under the DCP, with respect to deferrals of restricted stock units, the Company will be obligated to issue shares of Common Stock on a future date (the “Obligations”). The Obligations are unfunded, unsecured general obligations of the Company and rank in parity with the Company’s other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness, subject to the claims of the Company’s general creditors. The Obligations are not transferable except upon death of the participant.

Prior to the termination of the DCP, payments were to be distributed in connection with either the participant’s separation of service, a change in control of the Company or a selected specified distribution date or dates, depending upon the distribution election made by the participant at the time of deferral. For amounts elected for distribution upon a specified date, participants were able to elect the form of payment as a single lump sum payment or annual installment payments of up to five years. However, if a participant’s service with the Company terminates prior to the selected specified distribution date or dates, payment would instead be made or commence in connection with such separation from service. Participants were able to elect the form of payment as a lump sum or annual installments of up to fifteen years for distributions to be made upon the participant’s separation from service due to retirement, which means a separation from service after the participant has attained age 55 and has at least five years of service with the Company. Any distribution triggered by a separation from service that occurs prior to the participant’s retirement would be paid in a single lump sum. Additionally, if a participant’s service terminates with us due to death or disability, or the participant is receiving installment payments and dies or becomes disabled prior to payment of all the installments, the Obligation would become immediately payable in a single lump sum. In addition, participants were entitled to receive payments through certain unforeseeable emergency withdrawals. Due to the termination of the DCP, any deferrals will be distributed to the participants no earlier than 12 months, and no later than 24 months, following the termination of the DCP in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Currently, the Company expects to distribute any remaining deferrals in November 2019.

Employment Agreements

The Company has entered into an employment agreement with each of the NEOs, copies of which have been filed with the SEC. The Company believes that employment agreements are beneficial to it as they provide, among other things, protections related to the Company’s trade secrets and intellectual property. Each employment agreement generally requires the executive officer to

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devote his or her full productive time and best efforts to the Company, to hold in confidence all trade secrets and proprietary information he or she receives from the Company and to disclose and assign to the Company any inventions and innovations he or she develops during the course of employment with the Company. The employment agreements set forth the base salary, incentive compensation, and, in general terms, the benefits and perquisites that the executive officer is entitled to as described above. The employment agreements also set forth the benefits and rights the executive officer is entitled to upon termination of employment and upon a change-in-control of the Company. These rights are described below, and tables quantifying the potential payments to the NEOs upon the occurrence of such events are included with the other compensation tables included in this Proxy Statement.

Termination of Employment Generally

In general, whether a NEO is entitled to severance benefits upon termination of employment depends upon the reason for the termination of employment. If an executive voluntarily resigns without “good reason” or the Company terminates the executive’s employment for “substantial cause,” then the executive is generally not entitled to any severance benefits. If the Company terminates the executive’s employment without substantial cause or if the executive resigns for good reason or because the Company elected not to renew the executive’s employment agreement at the expiration of its term, then the executive is generally entitled to severance benefits described below.

“Substantial cause” means the executive’s (i) failure to substantially perform the executive’s duties, (ii) material breach of the executive’s employment agreement, (iii) misconduct, including use or possession of illegal drugs during work and/or any other action that is damaging or detrimental in a significant manner to the Company, (iv) conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony, or (v) failure to cooperate with, or any attempt to obstruct or improperly influence, any investigation authorized by the Board or any governmental or regulatory agency. “Good reason” means a material breach of the employment agreement by the Company, and with respect to Mr. Brewer, also means any material diminishment in his position or duties or any requirement that he relocate his principal residence.

The severance benefits to which the NEOs may be entitled are based upon an assessment of competitive market terms and a determination of what is needed to attract and retain the executive officers. Having negotiated these terms in advance allows for an orderly and amicable separation and, with respect to certain of these benefits, for the obtainment for the Company’s benefit of a release of claims and provides an incentive for the executive not to compete with the Company.

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(1) These benefits will be paid after the completion of the relevant performance period and after the evaluation of whether, and the degree to which, the performance criteria have been met. Performance-based awards will only accelerate to the extent the underlying performance objectives are achieved.

(2) Subject to the executive executing a release of claims in favor of the Company, the executive not engaging in any disparaging conduct or communications and his compliance with certain other requirements of his employment agreement.

(3) Payable so long as the executive chooses not to engage in any business that competes with the Company.

Termination of Employment Due to Disability or Death

In the event of a NEO’s permanent disability, then the executive is generally entitled to the following benefits (i) a cash payment based on the incentive payment the executive would have received in light of the Company’s actual performance as measured against the requirements of the annual incentive plan and pro-rated to the date of permanent disability; (ii) a lump sum payment equal to six months of then current base salary; (iii) the vesting of all unvested long-term incentive compensation awards held by the executive that would have vested had he continued to perform services pursuant to his employment agreement for 12 months (18 months for Mr. Brewer) from the date of permanent disability; and (iv) the payment of premiums owed for COBRA insurance benefits for 12 months (18 months for Mr. Brewer) from the date of permanent disability. The payment of any benefits described in clauses (i) and (iii) above will be paid after the completion of the relevant performance period and the evaluation of whether, and the degree to which, the performance criteria have been met.

In the event of a NEO’s death, the executive’s estate is generally entitled to accelerated vesting of all service-based full value long-term incentive awards held by the executive.

Change-in-Control Arrangements

To provide independent leadership consistent with the shareholders’ best interests in the event of an actual or threatened change-in-control of the Company, the Company’s employment agreements with its officers, including the NEOs, provide certain protections in the event of a change-in-control. A “change-in-control” of the Company is defined, in general, as the acquisition by any person of beneficial ownership of 30% or more of the voting stock of the Company, the incumbent members of the Board cease to constitute a majority of the Board, certain business combinations of the Company, or any shareholder-approved or court-ordered plan of liquidation of the Company.

The Company’s change-in-control benefits require a double trigger prior to payment. In other words, there must be a change-in-control and a “termination event” (described below) within one year following a change-in-control. A “termination event” generally means the occurrence of any of the following within one year of the change-in-control: (i) the termination without substantial cause or a material breach of the employment agreement by the Company, (ii) failure by the successor company to assume the employment agreement, (iii) any material diminishment in the position or duties that the executive had immediately prior to the change-in-control, (iv) any reduction in compensation or benefits, or (v) any requirement that the executive relocate his principal residence.

In the event there is such a change-in-control and termination event, each named executive officer currently employed by the Company is generally entitled to the following benefits:

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(1) These benefits will be paid after the completion of the relevant performance period and after the evaluation of whether, and the degree to which, the performance criteria have been met. Performance-based awards will only accelerate to the extent the underlying performance objectives are achieved.

(2) Subject to the executive executing a release of claims in favor of the Company, the executive not engaging in any disparaging conduct or communications and his compliance with certain other requirements of his employment agreement.

(3) Payable so long as the executive chooses not to engage in any business that competes with the Company.

Our current form of long-term equity award agreements provide that upon a change of control the Compensation Committee will determine (based upon the nature of the change-in-control transaction) whether the awards are assumed or continued or a substitute award is issued or whether, in the event the awards are not assumed or continued or substituted for, the awards vest on an accelerated basis. For this purpose, if the Compensation Committee determines that the awards vest on an accelerated basis, performance awards will vest at “target” if the performance period has not been completed. The Company’s 401(k) Retirement Investment Plan also provides for full vesting of all participant accounts immediately prior to a change-in-control (as defined in the plan).

Governance and Other Considerations

Clawbacks

Each of the employment agreements for NEOs contains “clawback” provisions. If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to its material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirements under the U.S. securities laws as a result of the intentional misconduct or gross negligence of a NEO, then the applicable NEO is required to forfeit and reimburse the Company for all of the following: (i) any incentive or incentive compensation or equity compensation paid based upon such erroneously stated financial information, (ii) any incentive or incentive compensation or equity compensation received by the applicable NEO during the 12-month period following the earlier of the first public issuance or filing with the SEC of the financial document embodying the financial reporting requirement, (iii) any profits realized from the sale of Company securities during that same 12-month period, and (iv) if the individual’s employment is terminated, the right to receive special severance and incentive payments and any unvested and/or unexercised long-term incentive compensation awards.

In addition, if the NEO is one of the persons subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to its material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the United States securities laws as a result of misconduct of such NEO (within the meaning of Section 304, but other than as a result of intentional misconduct or gross negligence (which are covered by the paragraph above)), then the applicable individual is required, by Section 304, to forfeit and reimburse the Company for all of the following: (i) any incentive or incentive compensation or equity compensation received by Employee during the twelve (12) month period following the earlier of the first public issuance or filing with the SEC of the financial document embodying the financial reporting requirement and (ii) any profits realized from the sale of Company securities during that same twelve (12) month period.

Risk Assessment of Compensation Programs

The Company has determined that its compensation policies, plans and practices are consistent with the Company’s strategic objectives, are appropriately balanced and do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. In making this determination, the Company’s human resources and law departments conducted their annual review of the compensation policies, plans and practices for its executive officers, as well as for all other employees, and then discussed their findings with the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee and the Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consultant. The Company identified its compensation policies, plans and practices that: covered its employee

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population; were structured differently from those of other business units; or represented a significant portion of its compensation expense. The Company then assessed the risk-taking incentives inherent in the design and operation of these policies, plans and practices, including the following features of such policies, plans and practices: design, payment methodology, potential payment volatility, relationship to financial results, length of performance period, performance measures and goals, oversight and controls, and plan features and values compared to market practices. The Company also assessed the various controls that mitigate risks relating to compensation policies, plans and practices, such as executive stock ownership guidelines and forfeiture provisions contained in the employment agreements of the named executive officers that enable the recovery of certain incentive compensation payments in certain circumstances.

Based on this review, the Company believes that its compensation policies, plans and practices do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. This conclusion is based on, among other things, the approach employed by the Company in developing its compensation policies and practices, including the following:

Excise Taxes

The employment agreements for the NEOs do not obligate the Company to provide indemnification for excise taxes. Furthermore, the employment agreements for the NEOs provide that to the extent that any or all of the change-in-control payments and benefits provided to the executive under the employment agreement or any other agreement constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and would otherwise be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, then the aggregate amount of such change-in-control payments and benefits would be reduced by the minimum amounts necessary to equal one dollar less than the amount which would result in such payments and benefits being subject to such excise tax.

Stock Ownership Guidelines

In May 2018, the Board adopted updated stock ownership guidelines after review and consultation with our independent compensation consultant regarding best practices. Per the newly

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adopted guidelines, which increased holding requirements for non-employee directors and executive officers, the Company’s executive officers are required to own Common Stock interests with a value equal to at least the following minimum amounts:

The minimum share ownership amounts are required to be achieved within five years of an individual first becoming subject to these guidelines. Compliance with these guidelines is assessed on an annual basis. At the time compliance was assessed in 2018, all of the NEOs were in compliance with these guidelines. For more information regarding the stock ownership guidelines, see “Board of Directors and Corporate Governance — Stock Ownership Guidelines,” above.

Policy on Speculative Trading Activities — Anti-Hedging and Pledging Policy

The Company’s insider trading policy provides, among other things, that directors, officers and other employees may not engage in certain types of speculative activities with respect to the Company’s securities, including short sales, transactions in put options, call options or other derivative securities, hedging transactions, pledging of Company stock as collateral for a loan, or holding shares of Company stock in a margin account.

Tax Deductibility of Executive Compensation. In designing and approving the Company’s executive compensation plans, the Compensation Committee considers the effect of all applicable tax regulations, including Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), which generally disallows a tax deduction to public corporations for non-qualifying compensation in excess of $1.0 million paid to the ”covered employees.” Prior to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, covered employees generally consisted of our Chief Executive Officer and each of the next three highest compensated officers serving at the end of the taxable year other than our Chief Financial Officer, and compensation that qualified as “performance-based” under Section 162(m) was exempt from this $1 million deduction limitation. As part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the ability to rely on this exemption was, with certain limited exceptions, eliminated; in addition, the definition of covered employees was expanded to generally include all named executive officers. Although the tax deductibility of executive compensation is an important consideration, the Compensation Committee may approve compensation that does not qualify for deductibility where it is appropriate to do so. In addition, although we historically maintained certain performance-based incentive plans that originally were intended to permit the payment of compensation deductible under Section 162(m), subject to the limited transition relief rules in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, we may no longer be able to take a deduction for any compensation in excess of $1 million that is paid to a covered employee.

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2018 COMPENSATION TABLES

2018 Summary Compensation Table

The following table summarizes the compensation paid to or earned by the Company’s NEOs. For a description of the components of the Company’s 2018 executive compensation program, see “Executive Officer Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Components of the 2018 Executive Compensation Program.”

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Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal Year 2018

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to grants of awards to the NEOs under the Company’s non-equity and equity incentive plans during fiscal year 2018. For additional information concerning the annual and long-term incentives included in the Company’s executive compensation programs, see “Executive Officer Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Components of the 2018 Executive Compensation Program.”

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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2018