The YouTube golf scene is booming right now and Rick Shiels has been sharing his thoughts on the new venture from The Sidemen into golf.
The Sidemen are one of the most popular YouTube groups and channels around and boast huge names in their group such as KSI and CalFreezy.
Of course, in the golfing world, some folks won’t know who those guys are but for any youngster 18 and under, they’ll be household names.
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In the last few weeks, the Sidemen crew have ventured into golf by launching a new channel, Big Wedge.
As we know, Rick Shiels is one of the godfathers of the golf YouTube world and has been at the online game for years now.
But while some might suggest Shiels will fear the competition, the 37-year-old has actually welcomed the addition of such names.
Rick Shiels shares his verdict on The Sidemen getting into golf YouTube
Speaking on his Rick Shiels Golf Show today, the popular YouTuber shared his thoughts on the Sidemen’s quest into golf videos.
“I had heard about it a while ago. Seb on Golf is also part of this and he mentioned how all of these lads are really getting into their golf, even KSI is now playing golf, which is huge.
“He was talking about how some of them were setting up their own channels. But this one is the first group they have put together and let’s be honest, it’s very similar to Good Good. They have five or six characters and they have been going on filming weeks. They went over to Turkey and filmed a bank full of videos as we have seen.
“I am staggered by the views to be honest with you. If you had said to me put a prediction on the views, I don’t think I would have said a million. Because, and it’s great to see, this is a good thing this videos are getting so many views.
“But what I was worried about, and they are big in their own space, but I was worried if they transitioned over to golf they wouldn’t bring the audience with them.
“At the moment it has been a very successful launch on the first two videos, I think they may be slightly disappointed they haven’t gained more subscribers, because with that many views and a channel that is so, so new. This channel could be on half a million subscribers, easily.”
Adding further comment on what the Sidemen’s move into golf could do for the overall golf YouTube scene, Shiels conceded it can only be a good thing.
“I’m hoping these first two videos aren’t going to be their biggest ever videos. I’m hoping the next one they bring out is going to just as good and the next one. I genuinely think it’s good for the YouTube space, because they all have massive channels themselves.
“If they are bringing audiences that normally aren’t into golf and they watch a Big Wedge video, guess what is going to come up in the next video. It’s going to be a Good Good video, a Bob Does Sports video, a Rick Shiels video and suddenly we are populating this golf community where everyone’s views goes up.
“It will bring more people into not only golf YouTube but they will go you know what golf looks a lot of fun. A lot of these guys might have a young audience who think let’s go to the driving range and give golf a go. If KSI gets into it, it must be a good thing.”
Golf YouTube continues to boom
The increase in popular golf YouTubers and other online presences in recent years has been massive and we now see so many content creators doing brilliant things.
Indeed, we’ve even seen recently the PGA Tour offer up a chance for content creators to play a proper event at the Myrtle Beach Classic, while the likes of Bryson DeChambeau have massively popular channels.
Right now, YouTube is massive in golf. Along with Shiels, we see the likes of Peter Finch, Seb on Golf, Tubes and Ange’s Golf Life and more all flying in the space.
As the years tick by, don’t be surprised to see more and more YouTubers and content creators get chances to play full-time events.
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