Two years back, I was standing in a massive queue for a brew at the Golf Show in Harrogate. Proper busy, everyone is pushing about trying to see the latest drivers and putters. Then this familiar northern voice pipes up behind me: “Alright, lads, anyone fancy a quick chat about that new TaylorMade?” I spin round, and there’s Rick Shiels. Just standing there like any other punter, no entourage, no fancy gear.

We end up nattering for ages about golf equipment while waiting for our coffees. Completely normal bloke, just happens to be golf YouTube royalty. That chat confirmed what I’d always thought watching his videos: this golfer, Rick Shiels, is sound as a pound, and his story’s mental when you think about it.

Proper Humble Beginnings

Rick Shiels was born in Bolton on 3 July 1986. He’s 39 now, which makes me feel ancient since I remember when he started making videos. His golf story begins the most boring way possible: waiting around while his mum had a lesson. He was 11, probably moaning about being dragged to Hart Common Golf Club in Westhoughton. His mum’s having her lesson; he’s mucking about on the range, hitting a few balls without much interest. Then he catches one sweet.

That one shot got him hooked. Funny how these things work, isn’t it? One good shot, and suddenly you think you’re the next Tiger Woods.

College Days and Reality Checks

Rick left school at 16 thinking he’d become a tour pro. Off he went to Myerscough College for a diploma in golf studies. Big dreams, massive ambitions, ready to take on the world. Reality smacked him right in the face. “My bubble burst,” he says now. “I realised I wasn’t as good as I thought I was.” Myerscough’s where golf dreams go to die, basically. Loads of talented kids all thinking they’re special. Most aren’t. Here’s a mad fact: Peter Finch, another big golf YouTuber, was at Myerscough with Rick. Small world, golf. Two of YouTube’s biggest names were mates at college, probably having no clue what was coming.

Rick figured out pretty quickly that tour golf wasn’t happening. Started golf at 11, which is ancient in golf terms. Kids who make it usually start at 5 or 6. He was realistic about it, which shows proper sense.

Building Something Real

After the tour dream died, Rick did what most golfers do: he became a PGA pro. Spent years learning the trade, working with regular golfers who just wanted to stop slicing their drives into the trees. My first proper job was at Mere Golf and Country Club in Cheshire. Then he moved to Trafford Golf Centre, and that’s where everything changed. It was 2011, YouTube was still pretty new, and Rick had this mad idea about filming golf lessons. Sounds obvious now, but back then? Mental. Who wanted to watch some bloke from Bolton talk about golf swings? Turns out, bloody everyone.

YouTube Madness Begins

Golfer Rick Shiels didn’t set out to become internet famous. He just wanted to help more people with their swings without having to see them all face-to-face. Early videos were proper basics with him on the range, explaining grips and stances. Nothing flash. But people loved it. His accent, his straightforward approach, and the way he explained things without being condescending. By June 2019, he’d become the biggest golf channel on YouTube with over 561,500 subscribers. Now he’s got 2.9 million. That’s more than most TV channels get.

The numbers are bonkers when you think about it. Started filming lessons for a few extra quid, ended up with millions of people hanging on his every word about 7-irons and drivers. His Instagram profile boasts a follower count of 852K, while his X following is 178.7K.

Keeping It Real

Rick’s always been dead private about his personal life. He’s married and keeps his wife away from the cameras, which is sensible. Fame is mental enough without dragging your family into it. What I love about him is how normal he’s stayed. Still lives up north, still sounds like the same Bolton lad who started making videos in his spare time. No airs, no graces, just Rick being Rick. He did something brilliant in 2019 – organised the first YouTube Golf Day to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK. Raised over £15,000. Using his platform for good causes shows what kind of person he is.

The Money Talk

Everyone wants to know what successful YouTubers earn. Rick’s no different. The numbers are all over the place depending on who you ask. Some reckon his net worth is around £1.37 million. Others say it’s closer to $5 million. Honestly? Good on him either way. Bloke’s worked his socks off, helped millions of golfers, and built something proper special from nothing. YouTube ads, sponsorship deals, merchandise, coaching: it all adds up. Plus, he’s got that second channel for equipment reviews, podcast deals, the whole lot. Built himself a proper media empire.

Why Rick Matters

Golf can be snooty. Expensive. Intimidating. Rick makes it normal. Talks to you like you’re his mate down the pub, not some toff at a posh club.  He’s proved something important: you don’t need to be Rory McIlroy to teach golf. Sometimes being a really good teacher matters more than being an amazing player. Rick gets that.

The Legacy So Far

Rick Shiels changed how people learn golf. Made it accessible to anyone with a phone and internet connection. Took instruction out of expensive pro shops and put it on YouTube for free. He’s stayed true to his Bolton roots throughout the whole journey. Never forgotten where he came from or who he’s making content for. That’s pretty special in a world where fame usually changes people. The lad from Bolton who just wanted to help people fix their slices has become golf YouTube’s biggest name. Not bad for someone who started playing at 11 and never made it as a tour pro.

Sometimes the best stories aren’t about the people who reach the top. They’re about the ones who find different ways to make their mark.