YouTubers.

[Deleted member 21784]

Spent 2 hours this morning watching rick shiels 'major' comp (round 1of2) from Prestwick

Never really seen the course before, surprised how many blind shots there was
Wont add a spoiler since its new content but will say it was interesting how their personalities came through in their own game, the more the round progressed


edit: Oh and I've still no idea what 'OG' stands for

OG is "original gangster" in slang and now used to say something that was the first to do something

IE these lot were the OG (originals) of YouTube

 

[VVega]

Oh and I've still no idea what 'OG' stands for

OG

1. someone or something that was one of the first to do something or one of the…

dictionary.cambridge.org

 

[Slab]

Thanks guys... although after finding out what it actually means I was probably happier being ignorant

 

[Orikoru]

OG is "original gangster" in slang and now used to say something that was the first to do something

IE these lot were the OG (originals) of YouTube

I just Googled who originated the phrase, then realised I was looking for the OG OG.

 

[Fore Right]

Rick Shiels Views Trend

February And March 2023 18.2 Million Views
February And March 2024 13.6 Million Views
February And March 2025 10.1 Million Views

 

[SteveW86]

Rick Shiels Views Trend

February And March 2023 18.2 Million Views
February And March 2024 13.6 Million Views
February And March 2025 10.1 Million Views

That doesn’t surprise me tbh.

Would be interesting to see the trend of good good and then Grant Horvat

 

[Fore Right]

Grant Horvat Views Trend

February And March 2023 4.2 Million Views
February And March 2024 8.4 Million Views
February And March 2025 21.7 Million Views

 

[Fore Right]

Hovats Liv Golf video done 2 million views and climbing.

Shiels Liv Golf videos struggling to get to 500k

 

[Arthur Wedge]

is that backlash for signing with Liv ?

Is that Hovat play under contract with LIV

 

[SteveW86]

is that backlash for signing with Liv ?

Is that Hovat play under contract with LIV

I think it’s more to do with people have moved on from him now.

There is better content out there from people who play better golf than he does.

 

[Crow]

Most YouTube golf viewers are American, Horvat is American, Sheils isn't.

And Horvat has shinier teeth.

It's not rocket science.

 

[The Squirrel]

Makes Shiels move to LIV look like a great business decision. Take your channel as far as it will go through hard work, cash in with a LIV contract just as it starts to wane then phone it in through that contract agreement and head off into the sunset a wealthy guy. Seems to have a decent financial brain.

 

[Fore Right]

is that backlash for signing with Liv ?

Although views were already declining its hard to say no..

Shows that subscriber count is largely irrelevant as You Tubers get paid on views.

maybe as mentioned by The Squirrel he saw this trend and knew this was his window to take the $$$ from Liv... If so you would have to say it was a smart decision.

 

[Mel Smooth]

Although views were already declining its hard to say no..

Shows that subscriber count is largely irrelevant as You Tubers get paid on views.

maybe as mentioned by The Squirrel he saw this trend and knew this was his window to take the $$$ from Liv... If so you would have to say it was a smart decision.

He had a bigger percentage drop before he signed with LIV, indeed they were critical of it on his channel around that time?

Rick will see the way his views were declining in a market that was becoming increasingly saturated. The LIV opportunity was one he probably couldn’t refuse.

 

[Orikoru]

Rick Shiels Views Trend

February And March 2023 18.2 Million Views
February And March 2024 13.6 Million Views
February And March 2025 10.1 Million Views

Part of this is just saturation of the market though surely. There are so many more golf YouTube channels than two years ago even. They're popping up all over the place.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

Part of this is just saturation of the market though surely. There are so many more golf YouTube channels than two years ago even. They're popping up all over the place

Definitely too much content now and it's too long. 2 hour course vlogs? Come on. I miss the first break 75 only 35 mins or something

 

[Fore Right]

Part of this is just saturation of the market though surely. There are so many more golf YouTube channels than two years ago even. They're popping up all over the place.

Yet other major channels are trending in the other direction ?

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Although views were already declining its hard to say no..

Shows that subscriber count is largely irrelevant as You Tubers get paid on views.

maybe as mentioned by The Squirrel he saw this trend and knew this was his window to take the $$$ from Liv... If so you would have to say it was a smart decision.

Influencers in many aspects is a random business- bad golfers or golfers not good enough to make it playing doesn’t seem like something that would appeal but seems to grab the attention

The last thing I saw snippets off was when they had a budget and got a load of cheap clubs and played a round

 

[Fore Right]

Looking at other channels

Good Good slightly down
Grant Horvat massively up
Bryan Bros Up
Peter Finch about the same
James Robinson about the same
Matt fryer down this year
Mark Crossfield slightly down
Danny Maude same
Golf Life down slightly

Clearly Horvat is the needle mover however although down, Shiels view numbers are greater than most of the above, most significantly

 

[Orikoru]

Yet other major channels are trending in the other direction ?

Well, you've quoted Horvat who's only had his own channel about three years so obviously the viewership will grow. Rick has had his for over a decade so obviously there is going to be a peak and then some drop-off as more and more other channels come into the mix.