Nina Caldwell
Rick Shiels is a well-known figure in the world of golf, but not as a professional golfer. Shiels left school at 16 with aspirations to become a professional golfer and enrolled in a golf studies program at Myerscough College. However, he soon realized that he was not as skilled as he thought. Shiels eventually found success as a golf entertainer and educator, particularly on YouTube, where he has gained a massive following with his channel Rick Shiels Golf. He has also partnered with major brands like Nike and Mastercard and played at renowned golf clubs such as Augusta and Royal Liverpool. Shiels has a vision to expand the game's reach worldwide and make it accessible to people from all walks of life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ambition at 16 | To become a professional golfer |
| School | Myerscough College |
| Qualification | Diploma in golf studies |
| YouTube subscribers | 1.54 million (as of April 2021); 3 million (as of February 2024) |
| YouTube channel content | Golf equipment reviews, instructional tips, golf stories, etc. |
| YouTube guests | Richard Hammond, Robbie Williams, Charley Hull, Rickie Fowler, Brad Faxon, Ian Poulter |
| YouTube partnerships | Nike, Garmin, Mastercard |
| Podcast | The Rick Shiels Golf Show |
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What You'll Learn
Rick Shiels' golfing career
Rick Shiels is a well-known figure in the world of golf, particularly for his popular YouTube channel and podcast, which have elevated his status in the sport. Shiels initially aspired to become a professional golfer, enrolling in Myerscough College at the age of 16 to pursue a diploma in golf studies. However, he soon realised that his skill level was not at the top, describing his experience as a "bubble burst". Despite this setback, Shiels persevered and managed to build a successful career in golf.
Shiels has gained recognition as a range pro and has played at prestigious golf courses such as Augusta, Royal Liverpool, and Marco Simone Golf and Country Club. He has also collaborated with notable golfers like Charley Hull, Rickie Fowler, Brad Faxon, and Ian Poulter. In addition to his playing career, Shiels has extended his influence as a golf entertainer and educator through his YouTube channel and podcast, "The Rick Shiels Golf Show".
As of 2025, Shiels's YouTube channel has amassed over three million subscribers, with his videos accumulating more than 374 million views as of April 2021. His content covers a wide range of golf-related topics, including equipment reviews, instructional tips, and golf stories. Shiels has also partnered with major brands such as Nike, Garmin, and Mastercard to create mini-series on his channel. Additionally, he has featured celebrities like Robbie Williams and Eddie Hall.
Beyond his online presence, Shiels has contributed to charitable initiatives within the golfing community. In 2019, he co-hosted the first YouTube Golf Day, which successfully raised over £15,000 for Prostate Cancer UK. This event united 44 creators with a combined following of over 19 million subscribers. Shiels's influence extends beyond his own channel, as he has also been a judge on "Driver vs Driver 2" and has plans to further grow the game globally.
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Shiels' YouTube success
Rick Shiels left school at 16 with the aim of becoming a professional golfer. He joined Myerscough College, taking a diploma in golf studies, but soon realised that he was not as good as he had thought. Shiels then went on to become a "range pro".
Shiels is now YouTube's biggest golf star, with over three million subscribers on his main channel as of February 2025. He has also played at Augusta, Royal Liverpool, and Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, and has created content with celebrities such as Robbie Williams, Richard Hammond, Charley Hull, Rickie Fowler, Brad Faxon, and Ian Poulter. In April 2021, he had over 1.54 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, with over 374 million views. His channel's content covers many aspects of golf, including equipment reviews, instructional tips, and golf stories.
Shiels has also partnered with large brands like Nike, Garmin, and Mastercard to create multiple mini-series on his channel. In 2019, he helped host the first YouTube Golf Day, which raised over £15,000 for Prostate Cancer UK. The event gathered 44 creators with over 19 million combined followers.
Shiels also presents a podcast called The Rick Shiels Golf Show and has a second YouTube channel of the same name. He has big plans for the future, including a ten-year mission to open the game to new corners of the world and all people, regardless of their backgrounds or financial situations. He also intends to launch a stylish range of merchandise, including headcovers, towels, ball markers, and water bottles.
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Shiels' podcast
Rick Shiels left school at 16 with the aim of becoming a professional golfer. He joined Myerscough College, taking a diploma in golf studies, but soon realized that he "wasn't as good as [he] thought [he] was". Shiels has since become a golf entertainment and education personality, with a focus on YouTube content creation and podcasting.
Shiels hosts a podcast called "The Rick Shiels Golf Show". In addition to his podcast, Shiels has gained significant popularity on YouTube, with over 1.54 million subscribers and 374 million views by April 2021. Shiels's YouTube content covers a range of golf-related topics, including equipment reviews, instructional tips, and golf stories. He has also partnered with major brands like Nike, Garmin, and Mastercard to create mini-series on his channel.
Shiels's podcast likely covers similar topics to his YouTube channel, providing listeners with insights and expertise in the world of golf. With his background in golf and experience as a range pro, Shiels is well-equipped to offer instructional content and tips to improve one's golf game. He may also interview guests, ranging from professional golfers to celebrities, providing a diverse range of perspectives and stories related to golf.
In addition to his podcast and YouTube channel, Shiels has a ten-year mission to open golf to new audiences worldwide, regardless of their background or financial situation. He aims to set up amateur golf tours, establish global facilities, and get more kids involved in the sport. Shiels also intends to continue growing his YouTube channel, with a goal of reaching tens of millions of subscribers and connecting with golfers worldwide.
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Shiels' brand partnerships
Rick Shiels is a British golf professional and YouTuber, best known for his YouTube channel, Rick Shiels Golf, which became the largest golf channel on YouTube in June 2019. Shiels has successfully leveraged his platform to establish lucrative partnerships with several prominent brands.
One of Shiels' most notable brand partnerships was with Nike, Inc. He collaborated with the sportswear giant to create multiple mini-series on his YouTube channel. However, in February 2021, Shiels announced the end of this partnership on his podcast, citing Nike's desire to shift to a 'paid-to-post' model, which would have required him to explicitly promote Nike apparel to his audience. Shiels' integrity and authenticity were clearly important to him, and he chose to part ways with Nike rather than compromise his values.
Shiels has also partnered with other well-known brands such as Garmin and Mastercard. These collaborations resulted in the creation of engaging mini-series on his YouTube channel, often featuring celebrities like Robbie Williams and Eddie Hall.
In addition to his brand partnerships, Shiels has also demonstrated his commitment to charitable causes. In 2019, he co-hosted the first YouTube Golf Day, which raised over £15,000 for Prostate Cancer UK. This event showcased Shiels' dedication to using his influence for positive impact and engaging with meaningful projects beyond purely commercial endeavours.
As of July 2022, Shiels has expanded his brand partnerships to include apparel collaborations. He has partnered with the clothing brand Lyle & Scott and the Danish shoe company ECCO, diversifying his partnerships beyond solely golf-related products and services. With his substantial online following and influence in the golf community, these partnerships offer significant exposure for the brands while also enhancing Shiels' own brand and reputation.
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Shiels' charity work
Rick Shiels, the world's most-watched online golf personality, has raised over £250,000 for charity. Shiels, who has almost three million YouTube subscribers, originally started reviewing equipment and products on his principal Rick Shiels Golf channel. He now has a huge following across his Rick Shiels Golf Show podcast and H.I.T. channels.
Shiels has been closely involved in campaigns for mental health charity MIND and the 'It's Never You' childhood cancer charity, for whom he completed the London Marathon in 2023 and 2024, raising over £16,000. Shiels said of his work with Make-A-Wish UK: “Meeting Jack and spending the day with him was an incredible experience – his passion for golf and positive spirit were truly inspiring... Working with charities like [Make-A-Wish] makes you realise what incredible work is being done to make children’s lives more manageable and enjoyable during some of the darkest times."
Shiels' biggest fundraiser to date was for the Walk 150 campaign with Prostate Cancer UK, which saw Shiels and other fundraisers trek from Prestwick Golf Club, home of the first Open Championship in 1860, to St Andrews. He also helped host the first YouTube Golf Day in 2019, which raised over £15,000 for Prostate Cancer UK.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Rick Shiels was not a professional golfer. However, he left school at 16 with the aim of becoming one and joined Myerscough College, taking a diploma in golf studies.
Rick Shiels is famous for being YouTube's biggest golf star. He creates content on golf, including equipment reviews, instructional tips, and golf stories. He has also played at Augusta, Royal Liverpool, and Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.
Rick Shiels continues to create content on his YouTube channel and podcast, "The Rick Shiels Golf Show". He also has plans to launch a stylish range of merchandise and to open the game to new corners of the world and all people, regardless of their walks of life or financial situation.
