Our Story

How Bad Gopher Came to a Reality

From Rock Bottom to Tee Time — This Is Bad Gopher

Bad Gopher isn’t just a clothing brand — it’s a comeback story.

My name is Marc Lavimodiere. This all started when life hit back — hard. After

 years of grinding through day jobs, pushing myself in the gym, and chasing the dream of playing pro golf, my body finally waved the white flag. I always had a belief — maybe even a stubborn one — that I could make it. Deep down, I knew the odds were stacked, but I chased it anyway, because that belief kept me alive.

Then at 35, I was told I needed a total hip replacement.

That stopped everything. No more pretending I could just push through. No more ignoring the signs. I had to pause — really pause — and ask myself: What now? What’s left? Who am I without the dream I was chasing? For a while, I didn’t have the answers. I just knew I couldn’t stay in the dark.

I was in a dark place. Pain, frustration, feeling lost — both physically and mentally. But rock bottom turned into the launchpad. That’s when the vision for Bad Gopher was born.

 

Golf and the gym were always my outlets, my reset buttons. They gave me clarity, confidence, and the push to fight forward. So I built something that blends all that energy — the hustle, the humour, the honesty — into a brand that stands for more than just style. Bad Gopher is for the grinders, the comeback kids, the ones who show up when it’s easier to stay down.

And here’s the heart of it: We are only in our Infancy stages, so a 5% portion of every sale will be Personally Delivered by me on a Monthly basis to the CAMH Foundation — because I’ve seen what it’s like to struggle with mental health and not know where to turn. This brand gives back to the people fighting those same invisible battles. 

We’re here to make you laugh, help you feel good, and remind you that starting over is a damn good place to begin.

So when you wear Bad Gopher, you’re not just repping gear — you’re repping a story. Mine, yours, and everyone else trying to turn pain into purpose.