{{Short description|British golf YouTuber}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Rick Shiels | image = Rick Shiels 2025.jpg | caption = Shiels in 2019 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|7|3|df=y}} | birth_place = Bolton, England | occupation = {{flatlist| * Golfer * YouTuber}} | years_active = 2011–present | known_for = YouTube channel, [https://www.youtube.com/user/RickShielsPGAGolf Rick Shiels Golf] }} '''Rick Shiels''' (born 3 July 1986) is a British YouTuber and golf professional, best known for his YouTube channel, Rick Shiels Golf.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Richard Shiels - Tournament Results {{!}} The PGA|url=https://pgagbi.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/pgagbi15/profile/rshiels/tresults.htm|access-date=2021-03-29|website=pgagbi.bluegolf.com}}</ref> In June 2019, his channel became the largest golf channel on YouTube after surpassing 561,500 subscribers.<ref name=":2" /> As of March 2025, he has over 2.9 million subscribers.
==Biography== Shiels was born in Bolton, England on 3 July 1986.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Matt Cradock |date=2022-01-30 |title=15 Things You Didn't Know About Rick Shiels |url=https://www.golfmonthly.com/features/the-game/15-things-you-didnt-know-about-rick-shiels |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Golf Monthly Magazine |language=en}}</ref> He began playing golf at Hart Common Golf Club in Westhoughton at the age of 11.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2020-09-24|title=Golf coach Rick Shiels from Bolton is helping more than a million people develop their game|url=https://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/things-to-do/rick-shiels-youtube-golf-coach-7063176|access-date=2021-03-28|website=Great British Life|language=en-UK}}</ref> He earned a diploma in golf studies at Myerscough College.<ref name=":0" /> Ten years after he began playing golf, he started working at Mere Golf and Country Club in Cheshire, England after completing his PGA training and becoming a qualified pro.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Where is PGA Professional Rick Shiels from?|url=https://www.whywelovegolf.com/golf-wiki/where-is-pga-professional-rick-shiels-from|access-date=2021-03-28|website=www.whywelovegolf.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Rick Shiels – GolfWRX|url=https://www.golfwrx.com/author/rickshiels/|access-date=2021-04-04|language=en-US}}</ref> He then worked at Trafford Golf Centre where, in 2011, he started his YouTube channel, posting videos related to golf as an attempt to gain more customers. In June 2020, he became the first golf vlogger to amass 1 million subscribers.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|title=Golfer attains YouTube one million followers first|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-manchester-53276653|access-date=2021-03-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Rick Shiels – A Top PGA Teacher|url=https://golf-info-guide.com/golf-tips/golfs-greatest-teachers/rick-shiels-a-top-pga-teacher/|access-date=2021-03-28|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=GolfBusinessNews.com|title=Rick Shiels hits 1 million subscribers on YouTube|url=https://golfbusinessnews.com/news/media/123104/|access-date=2021-04-04|website=GolfBusinessNews.com|language=en}}</ref> In 2019, Shiels helped host the first YouTube Golf Day, which raised over £15,000 for Prostate Cancer UK.<ref>{{Cite web|title=YouTube star Rick Shiels enjoys unrivalled year of growth – PGA Publishing|url=https://pgapublishing.com/connect-25/youtube-star-rick-shiels-enjoys-unrivalled-year-of-growth/|access-date=2021-03-28|language=en-US|archive-date=28 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228040545/http://pgapublishing.com/connect-25/youtube-star-rick-shiels-enjoys-unrivalled-year-of-growth/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The event gathered 44 creators with over 19 million combined followers.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=GolfBusinessNews.com|title=Rick Shiels Becomes World's Most Subscribed Golf YouTuber|url=https://golfbusinessnews.com/news/media/rick-shiels-becomes-worlds-most-subscribed-golf-youtuber/|access-date=2021-03-28|website=GolfBusinessNews.com|language=en}}</ref> He has also partnered with many large brands like Nike, Inc., Garmin, and Mastercard to create multiple mini-series on his YouTube channel.<ref name=":2" />
His videos have included celebrities like Robbie Williams and Eddie Hall.<ref name=":1" /> By April 2021, he had over 1.54 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, with over 374 million views.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rick Shiels Golf - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/user/RickShielsPGAGolf|access-date=2021-03-28|website=www.youtube.com}}</ref> His channel's content covers many aspects of golf, including golf equipment reviews, instructional tips, golf stories, and more.<ref>{{Cite web|title=WATCH - EXCLUSIVE webinar with YouTube star Rick Shiels|url=https://www.pga.info/news/watch-exclusive-webinar-with-youtube-star-rick-shiels/|access-date=2021-03-28|website=www.pga.info}}</ref> Shiels also presents a podcast called The Rick Shiels Golf Show and a second YouTube channel of the same name.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Jonny Leighfield |date=2024-02-20 |title=YouTube Giant Rick Shiels Celebrates New Milestone |url=https://www.golfmonthly.com/news/youtube-giant-rick-shiels-celebrates-new-milestone |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Golf Monthly Magazine |language=en}}</ref> In February 2021, Shiels announced on his podcast that he had ended his partnership with Nike, but Nike hoped to get Shiels to switch to a 'paid to post' model with Shiels encouraging viewers to buy Nike apparel; not wanting to do this, Shiels decided not to renew the partnership.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rick Shiels reveals why he has SPLIT with Nike Golf {{!}} GolfMagic|url=https://www.golfmagic.com/golf-news/rick-shiels-reveals-why-he-has-split-nike-golf|access-date=2021-04-04|website=www.golfmagic.com|date=16 February 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=When did Rick Shiels end his sponsorship deal with Nike?|url=https://www.whywelovegolf.com/golf-wiki/rick-shiels-nike-sponsorship|access-date=2021-04-04|website=www.whywelovegolf.com|language=en}}</ref>
As of July 2022, Shiels has a new apparel partnership with the clothing brand Lyle & Scott and Danish shoe brand ECCO.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Matt Cradock |date=2024-04-22 |title=Ecco Releases Limited Edition Rick Shiels Biom C4 Golf Shoe |url=https://www.golfmonthly.com/buying-advice/ecco-releases-limited-edition-rick-shiels-biom-c4-golf-shoe |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Golf Monthly Magazine |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author1=Jeff Kimber |date=2022-07-08 |title=Rick Shiels Announces New Sponsor |url=https://www.golfmonthly.com/news/rick-shiels-signs-sponsorship-deal-with-lyle-scott |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Golf Monthly Magazine |language=en}}</ref>
Early in 2025 <ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-06 |title=Rick Shiels to LIV Golf? The YouTube star has (finally) revealed all! |url=https://www.todays-golfer.com/news-and-events/general-news/youtuber-rick-shiels-makes-liv-golf-announcement/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Today's Golfer |language=en}}</ref> Shiels announced he had signed a lucrative contract with the Saudi Golf League "LIV" Golf to be an Ambassador for Saudi Golf. Shiels made it clear he was not there to play golf himself but rather to advocate for the Saudi League and help to expand its presence and influence in mainstream society.
In August 2025, Shiels participated in the inaugural Internet Invitational, a YouTube golf tournament organized by Barstool Sports and Bob Does Sports.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wheeler |first=Wyatt D. |title=Barstool Sports announces roster for Internet Invitational at Big Cedar Lodge |url=https://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/2025/07/09/internet-invitational-barstool-sports-dave-portnoy-jon-gruden-pft-big-cedar-lodge-golf/84522516007/ |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=Springfield News-Leader |language=en-US}}</ref> The tournament aired between October and November 2025 and garnered over 25 million views online.
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shiels, Rick}} Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:British male golfers Category:British YouTubers Category:British golf instructors Category:21st-century British sportsmen Category:LIV Golf Category:Male padel players Category:YouTube golfers Category:British sports podcasters Category:Golf podcasters