Popular YouTuber Rick Shiels and his co-host Guy Charnock have come up with an idea which they feel might even be bigger than the Full Swing series on Netflix.
Shiels, one of the biggest sports YouTubers in the world, often has plenty to say on all things golf.
Indeed, Shiels was one of the big names to not get an invite to the recent Creator Classic won by Luke Kwon, albeit he bares no grudge and Shiels himself he simply didn’t get invited.
Of course, Shiels also has his own podcast and on one of the latest episodes, he and co-host Guy Charnock, along with professional golfer Ryan Ruffels, were speaking about how to actually make it on the PGA Tour in the first place.
- READ MORE: Rick Shiels issues verdict on the PGA Tour’s Creator Classic after not being invited to the event
And speaking on that subject, Shiels and Charnock suggested a Full Swing series following the players trying to just make it as a pro as compelling viewing.
Rick Shiels has a great idea for Netflix following the Full Swing success
Speaking about the idea of actually becoming a player on the PGA Tour in the first place, Charnock and Shiels believe there’s a real offering for viewers.
“We did like a mini, and documentary is a very loose term, of Rick a number of years ago. But for me personally I get fascinated by this level of golfer. These guys who are trying to get on the tour and make a living where it really matters,” Charnock commented.
“You look at a Scottie Scheffler or a Rory and they are not playing for money, they are playing for legacy. These guys who are trying to earn a career or start a career, imagine if they had a Netflix show follow these guys around for a year and seeing the trials and tribulations.”
“It could [be better than Full Swing],” Shiels then quipped.
“Because with all due respect to the tour pros that they follow they are in their wonderful houses with their sports cars and what looks like an incredible life. And if you actually showed a guy listen if I don’t do it this time, that’s me, I’m finished with golf. Because there will be people that go to Q school and if they don’t make it, that’s the end of the road.
Ruffels, who has gone through that process, then offered his take and explained why so many simply end up quitting if they fall short.
“Well, they run out of cash. They get a sponsor, because I don’t know how many people know this but Q school is extremely expensive just as an entry fee. In the US it costs about $7000 just to sign up and that’s before you pay flights, accommodation and rental car.
“Then there is three stages, so you have to get yourself to all three stages before you get through. The worst case scenario is that you make it to final stage and don’t get through because you have gone to three events and not got through. That is costing 15 to 20 grand, if you are quite economical, and you are sharing accommodation, rental cars and a cheap caddie.”
Any behind the scenes golf footage is great viewing
In fairness to Shiels here, the idea he’s come up with is actually a great one.
Yes, it is great to see the top players off the course and look at how they handle things and engage outside of the mainstream media we get glimpses of.
But in the main, these guys have all made it on tour already and as Shiels says, are playing to cement their legacy and earnings.
For the Korn Ferry players and others, the heartbreak and triumph would really resonate with golfers at home.
Netflix, then, might have been given a tremendous idea here.
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