PGA Professional Rick Shiels has built the world’s largest creator led golf media platform, accumulating more than 1.1 billion views across his wider media network, helping transform how millions engage with the game.
MANCHESTER, UK – Rick Shiels has become the first golf creator in history to surpass one billion YouTube views, marking a landmark moment not only for his channel, but for golf media as a whole.
The achievement comes thirteen years after the PGA Professional uploaded his first golf videos to YouTube with a simple ambition: help golfers improve and make the game more accessible.
Today, that passion project has grown into Rick Shiels Media, a global golf media business reaching millions of golfers every month through YouTube, podcasting and social media.
The flagship Rick Shiels channel alone has now surpassed one billion views, becoming the first creator led golf channel ever to achieve the milestone. Across its wider network of channels, Rick Shiels Media has generated more than 1.1 billion YouTube views, attracted more than 3.7 million subscribers and amassed over 150 million hours of watch time.
What began with a camera on a driving range has evolved into the world’s largest creator led golf media platform, followed by more than 7.3 million people across YouTube and social media and reaching audiences in every major golfing market worldwide.
From PGA Professional to global golf media pioneer
When Shiels uploaded his first golf lesson video to YouTube in 2012, golf content on the platform was still in its infancy.
The landscape was dominated by television highlights, traditional coaching clips and content produced by governing bodies and broadcasters. Few could have predicted that YouTube would go on to become one of the most influential platforms in golf, changing how fans consume the sport and how golfers learn the game.
Over the next thirteen years, Shiels helped shape that transformation.
His content evolved from instructional lessons into equipment reviews, course vlogs, travel series, challenges, documentaries, podcasts and collaborations with some of the biggest names in golf and sport. In the process, he helped redefine what golf content could be and built an audience that stretches across the globe.
Today, viewers from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia make up the majority of the channel’s audience, reflecting the growing international reach of both golf and digital media.
A billion views built one video at a time
The milestone represents more than just a number.
Across the Rick Shiels Media network, audiences have spent more than 150 million hours watching content. That equates to more than 16,000 years of viewing time.
Since launching in 2012, Shiels has published 2,577 videos on his flagship channel, covering coaching, equipment reviews, challenges, course play, travel, major championships and interviews with some of the most recognisable names in golf.
Throughout that period, golf content on YouTube has grown from a niche category into one of the platform’s most influential sports communities, helping introduce new audiences to the game and giving golfers new ways to learn, engage and be entertained.
On reaching this landmark milestone, Shiels said: “When I uploaded my first video in 2012, I never imagined we’d one day be talking about one billion views. What started as a way to help a few golfers improve their game has become something much bigger than I could ever have imagined.
“People often ask what the secret has been. The truth is we’ve just turned up, every week, for thirteen years and tried to make content golfers genuinely want to watch.
“One billion views is an incredible milestone, but what means the most to me is what sits behind that number. For more than a decade we’ve had the privilege of entertaining, educating and connecting with golfers all over the world. Every single view represents someone choosing to spend a little bit of their time with us and I’ll never take that for granted.
“Golf has given me a career, a business, friendships and opportunities I could never have dreamed of. If our content has helped people discover the game, enjoy it more, improve their golf or simply spend time with friends and family, that’s something I’m incredibly proud of.
“This milestone belongs to everyone who’s watched a video, left a comment, subscribed to the channel or supported us along the way. Without that support, none of this happens.”
Building more than a channel
The billion-view milestone also reflects the growth of a business that has expanded far beyond a single YouTube channel.
Today, Rick Shiels Media employs a team of twelve people and operates a growing portfolio of content brands, including H.I.T Golf and The Rick Shiels Golf Show podcast.
None of this happens without the team behind Rick Shiels Media either. What started as one person and a camera is now a group of brilliant people who turn up every week and pour everything into what we make. This milestone is theirs as much as mine.
The company has collaborated with major champions, Ryder Cup players, world number ones, leading sports personalities and some of the biggest brands in golf, while continuing to produce independent content for audiences around the world.
What began as one creator’s passion project has become one of the most successful and influential media businesses in the game.
Rick Shiels Media in numbers
- First golf creator in history to surpass 1 billion YouTube views
- 1.1 billion+ YouTube views across the Rick Shiels Media network
- 3.7 million+ YouTube subscribers
- 150 million+ hours watched
- 7.3 million+ followers and subscribers across platforms
- 2,577 videos published on the flagship channel
- 12 full time team members
- Audience spanning every major golfing market worldwide
- Founded in 2012
Timeline
2012 – First video uploaded
2016 – 100,000 subscribers
2019 – 500,000 subscribers
2020 – 1 million subscribers
2025 – 3 million subscribers
2026 – First golf creator in history to surpass 1 billion YouTube views
Image Caption: Rick Shiels becomes the first ‘view billionaire’ in golf
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About Rick Shiels
Rick Shiels is a PGA Professional, entrepreneur and founder of Rick Shiels Media. Since launching his YouTube channel in 2012, he has built the world’s largest creator led golf media platform, reaching millions of golfers every month through YouTube, podcasting and social media. His flagship YouTube channel recently became the first golf creator channel in history to surpass one billion views.
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