It might’ve taken over a decade but Rick Shiels has become the first golf content creator to surpass one billion views on YouTube.
It comes 13 years after he uploaded his first video to the platform on which his flagship channel has attracted more than 3.7 million subscribers and amassed over 150 million hours of watch time.
Shiels, who started as a PGA Professional, has transformed his brand into one that is followed by more than 7.3 million people across YouTube and social media.
The Englishman has published 2,577 videos on his YouTube channel, covering coaching, equipment reviews, challenges, course play, travel, major championships and interviews with several high-profile names in golf.
“When I uploaded my first video in 2012, I never imagined we’d one day be talking about one billion views,” Shiels said of the milestone. “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.
He continued: “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.”
Last year, Shiels hit three million subscribers on his YouTube channel, five years after hitting the seven-figure mark.
He signed with LIV Golf in a landmark move in January 2025 and also hosts The Rick Shiels Golf Show podcast.
Article Link: Rick Shiels hits one billion views on YouTube