 Right, okay. Thank you for joining the average golfer for episode three of the average podcast If you watch Golf YouTube then the man on my right needs no introduction. So welcome Rich Shields. Thank you very much Thanks for having me here. What a setup. Yeah, it's nice in it. Nice and cozy the fires on it's all nice for you About a coffee. I'm very impressed It's good and obviously you've done your podcast Kind of remotely because you have Alex from Australia. Yeah, I'm different USA. It's nice to be able to come down here And first person I've been able to see a reaction from it's nice. Yeah Some of your other ones when someone else has pulled a funny face It's the lady's on so it's so difficult to do so it's nice that and I think before before I start and get stuck Into the questions. I want to say this Rick's just traveled. Is what an hour and a bit? Yeah about an hour and a half pouring down rain miserable day I asked him to do this I'm not sure that I thought that he would to be fair But he's he said yes, and he's come down all of his own making and I greatly appreciate it So I just want to point that out before we go any further. Well now it's on to the questions I've got a point out. I interviewed Randy a couple of weeks ago from Friday I know you're big friends with yeah big fan off He's actually in rehab at the moment. Okay, the the effect that it had on it. No, I saw that and You really touched on some emotional chords. So be prepared I've expected I've expected this character. I'm going to turn And Randy if you are wondering it was scuba Steve who asked me to fire that question right, but over to you I've got and I'm glancing down at notes 9th of May 2012 Was your first video, but that was a bit of a video of your swing from above I don't know if you're gonna be cool. Okay, I want to start with first video was 23rd of July if you can just hit that poor play button This is and I want this for Have you got it? I might have to give some context this first or not. Yes, you can do but we haven't got oh you You I'm gonna play that. Yeah. So this is took this is seven years ago What shall I forgot? So this is grip it right with Rick Shields. Yes, so I've not watched this for a long time So my reaction on this is gonna be very cringe-worthy because it's it's one of my very very first videos They're out there actually was probably four or five videos before This and even before that very first one the night of May which no longer exist, right? Yeah, so this is this is one of the ones that I was at the time happy. Yeah. Yeah, so yeah interesting to see what it looks like now What you what your thoughts when you see it because I mean obviously We're gonna move on very shortly to where we're at now But what what do you think when you look back at that? Let me just give a little bit of context and backstory So I was a golf professional at traffic golf center at the time of this being filmed and this wasn't This was a highly golf. Yeah. Yeah a bit and then I realized I wanted to start making content on YouTube For me a way of being able to promote myself as a golf coach at Trafford You know there's four or five golf coach at Trafford and I wanted to promote myself So I thought well an easy way not an easy way But a way of doing it is to look online look on YouTube. Yeah, there's hardly anybody doing it. Let's try and create some really Fresh instruction videos. Yeah. Yeah, it's this now. I knew no idea how to film I didn't know how to record my audio. I knew you're on your own here. Are you on that? No? I'm not right. That's why I'm fortunate this this whole kind of video ended up coming to life So I didn't know how to do it at all. I had no equipment. No knowledge So I hired someone right so I had a guy and he said not problem. I can do X amount of videos and it's gonna cost you this much and it was a lot of money at the time I'm thinking whoa, but it's uh, you know an expense an investment So I paid the money and in my head. I thought well if I get about 30 videos filmed in a day Wow, yeah, I know good going. Yeah in a day. Well, it's worth the investment Yeah, right. So I hired him. I had to hire all the equipment because he didn't have anything I don't know who the hell I used at the time And we went to highly crack a dawn first thing in the morning and we started filming and the very first video I did was a bumper run video which is also on my channel and I nailed it Yeah, the delivery. I thought was brilliant. I nailed it in my first time. I watched that one as well So he's on the he's behind the camera. He goes Rick, um There was a lawn mower Like two fairways down. Can we do it again? I'm like, I thought it was pretty good. Okay. I'll do it again. Did it again You know, there was a plane just going across at the same time the audio just didn't sound good. Can we do it again? So that repeated maybe 10 times right and suddenly as you start doing it you start getting it wrong Yes, I nailed it first time. Yeah, it gets harder and nailed it. Yeah. Yeah, that's always the way and every time It just got harder and harder. Yeah Um to the point where it became super wooden that happened on every tip That happened on every tip. So at the end of this day that I filmed the most beautiful day in the middle of summer When I I was thinking I was going to get 30 videos done. I got six done. Right. Well, I still haven't gone into that At the time I wasn't that impressed. I paid a lot of money. Yeah, you're only two minute videos, Andy And um, I think his way of saving him money is his deal was he had to film him and edit him Right. So he was probably think smarter than me at the time and realized well, if we film six videos It's not going to take me a long time. So the retakes was a bit of a plan maybe yeah So unfortunately then when I got to this video was probably one of the latter ones in the day It was like, right, I'm just going to get this right. Yeah. Hi. I'm rick shields. Thanks for watching It's so hard to do though, isn't it? At the time? Well, yeah at the time because that's what I was going to say is that So we're seven years on You're doing stuff at the the open. Yeah, British masters. I mean, you know, I can reel off all kind of big grand gigs that you do now um You're more relaxed now obviously than you were in that video there So you've got seven years experience, but you're on this massive stage and platform now. So how does that feel? Or how have you achieved that? Why the difference? It's a bit like, you know, as a kid, you never realize you're growing until someone says to you Well, haven't you grown tall? Yeah, you don't realize. Yeah. Yeah. You have no idea. It's the same with this I never yeah, I never realized. Well, what you've got to understand is I've got now Don't quote me on the number. Maybe 1600 videos on my channel So over the time period Yeah, I've you know, that's a progression. Yeah, and and a lot of the time when I filmed starting off at Trafford You know, there was nobody behind the camera and I just talked to the camera as if I was talking to one of my students It was relaxed as if I had a mate behind the camera and the more I did that the more I became comfortable We're just recording to a mate behind the camera. It made me more relaxed. Yeah. Yeah. Um, and over time, you know You'll see it with anybody's content. They've just become more relaxed. Yeah Yeah, you see it with with even guys on tv that the very first time they're online and kicking compared to when they're presenting You know the very soap awards is completely separate. Yeah, don't want to use those two examples, but Um, yeah, it's good. Don't just see how you can take like I said from from highly seven years ago It must be nice for you to look back and say, right, that was me seven years ago This is what I've developed to now. He did the driver versus driver thing on a golf channel. Yeah, I mean, it's it's a huge Move isn't it? It's a great change. It's crazy. And again, you you go into that which is nervous for that. Yeah. Yeah Because it's you know When you're filming at youtube It's you and a camera. Yeah. Yeah, maybe a camera operator. Yeah, you know a couple of mates Yeah, you've got control. You know what's happening. You've got the control of the edit. You've got control of everything You throw yourself into the world of tv and suddenly you've got a hundred people behind the camera Right and and six or seven a hundred thousand pound cameras and producers and executives And you've got an airpiece and a microphone and makeup and meant like professional presenters And I had a i had jeremy ronick who's a professional ice hockey player who does a lot of stuff on USA commentating right you've got tim clark the president of wilson golf you've got melanie collins who's a professional presenter Suddenly thinking Seven years ago turning to me sat here now on tv Um, but you embrace it, you know you embrace it and you you know i learnt from it and you know the very first you know Recording session was totally different to the final recording session. Right, you know, we did seven seven shows for the series over timeframe of 12 months And I watched the first episode and thought oh my god. I'm so much better than that now Right. Yeah, because now you watch the finale. Yeah as a semi-final as I have to call it I was totally different. Yeah, so it was well received wasn't it? I mean it got great feedback It was it was it was a great experience Being asked to be a judge because I was asked by golf channel So golf channel asked me to you know, will you be a judge on this tv program? Yeah, I was like god. Yeah, of course They then said have you ever heard of driver versus driver? I was like well actually I saw glimpses of the first series Because I tested the triton driver. Yeah, but that's about it. I saw I know about it because we didn't receive it in the uk um So when it was driver versus driver two, I was like god you had love to be involved That's going to be awesome. And it was it was a wonderful experience. I got to see what the world of tv was like But also got to see the world of what it took to design a driver. Yeah It's just something I didn't I neglected, you know, I test products as you do as well I don't massively I don't massively need to know the stage by stage development Now I know I feel better equipped equipped to to review products down the line as well So you enjoyed doing it? With the Driver versus driver Yeah, I'm sure we can yeah It's a non-branded cut. Yeah. We're all right with the um driver versus driver and the tv thing And you did I think it was more of the media stuff, wasn't it social media stuff for the open a bit some bobs What about a career in sort of mainstream golf tv? Is that is that a way? Um future or I never want to rule opportunities out If you'd have asked me two years ago god if you'd have asked that guy seven years ago Would I honestly be sat here on a sofa at two upload towers doing a podcast where you had a gone no chance Um, but even you know the things on tv presenting the open was amazing opportunity Um other you know the emails that I receive on a daily basis of some of the opportunities You end up sitting back and going wow This is cool. You know not all of them can happen. Yeah Um, if I said yes to everything I'd never be at home and I've got family So, you know, I've got a I've got a balance that of course so no, but I love I love taking opportunities on You know, I do get nervous and you know Excited, but I think that's normal. Yeah. Yeah, it's good. If you didn't get excited or nervous What are you doing? Yeah, there's no passion there. Is there? Yeah. No, I think it's all But I'm nervous this morning doing this interview, you know, it's it's it's it's all about levels But at the same time whatever sort of stage you're at, you know, it's the same thing, isn't it? But it's that's the bit that it's worth getting up for and I like put myself in that position which I'm sure you do as well, you know Going back to your question about mainstream media. I think the balance is now is the Is online media stronger? Yeah. Well, I think that was again something that you know, where is the career really that the future of your career maybe is like you said Still that's youtube is the is the bigger I see my your potentially. Yeah. I see myself as a presenter of golf content. Yeah And when that's presented instruction videos presenting reviews equipment tests Presenting things for the open or golf channel. That's how I see myself as a presenting, you know, entertaining videos I think as long as if I categorize myself as that where I present my content doesn't massively matter You know, I love my youtube because I'm in control of it. Yeah, but if I've got some tv opportunities That's exciting too. Makes my mum proud And you you've worked and again more recently in the last couple of years you've worked with some great people in terms of collaborations Um What's been the any highlights so far and maybe not the collaborations, but in general of the channel your highlights Wow, it's just it's changed. Well, it's changed my life. You know without getting too kind of don't go down the route of randy and get me Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I've changed my life. It's given me a wonderful opportunity to grow A business that I never I never realized was going to be there. Yeah Um Opportunities that I've loved throughout the time period is the things that we've already mentioned the open the golf channel But also collaborating with some pals of mine and making their channels help and develop and grow Friends like pete finch matt fryer and the carter fried eggs, you know um Liam uh Some golf loves uk been able to help and develop those channels give some advice there as well as been really good Um, but then collaborating with you know, I've been lucky enough to collaborate with um two of the guys from dude perfect Yeah, yeah, yeah Um, and they're like the fifth biggest youtube channel in the world Yeah, you know the biggest sports channel in the world 40 million subscribers and then I sit with them and you talk about nervous. Oh my I was like because these are guys that I grew up again. Yeah on youtube watching these guys right and to be able to go out and play golf And then to be able to make a video with them was like wow. Yeah the amount of times I checked my cameras Is everything wrong? Yeah. Yeah around my battery is charged. It's the audio good. I've just had a couple of glances I know make sure it's cool. It's so nervous. Yeah. Yeah, you know the amount of times that I've got to Even after I Recorded that video with the guys. I almost didn't promote it until the video was done Right, let me get the video. Yeah, let me make sure that everything was in focus That sound was good. Yeah, everything was right and the edit was good before I then go Yeah, relax. Yeah, it actually happened like because otherwise it didn't happen if it, you know I think people forget as well how nervous it can be just making sure you get that footage from that sd card Whatever it is you're using. Correct. I see it on that whatever editing software you're using Awful miss apps. Yeah How heart wrench is it? Terrible. And some of I mean it's not about me, but some of the best footage you've ever gotten, you know, when you yeah, I lost an sd card out of a drone from there Nevin golf club on the finest stand On the peninsula. Yeah, but it was but it was the weather. It's always blowing. Yeah. Yeah, it was a gorgeous day Yeah, you're watching only on your screen at the time. I thought this is just spectacular magic And there we drove back and I'd lost there obviously a Micro micro sd. I still obviously never found that car to this day and never got that footage. It kills you But anyway, like I said, if you ever needed some, yeah, you've got to say have you really? Yeah Nefin peninsula. Yeah. Well the challenge we had one time I was finding a drone then it was windy like you said and I flew it right out because I wanted this Gorgeous shot of the peninsula coming back in. Yeah, it was a beautiful evening And the wind was up and the wind was Blowing up Which way was it going? Anyway flying it back in like it was struggling. Yeah. I was like, oh my god This drone isn't coming back. It's just like stalling. Yeah So I took it right down to almost the sea level And then and then came up and then I was like I got it in my hand. I was like Because if you need any, I've got some never actually used. Wow. Yeah. I don't know Yeah, you can have it. I'll drop box it later. Yeah With so I just want to go into the product testing for a little bit big part of the channel Um Now approaching half a million subs Do you feel a sense of responsibility with the reviews because obviously people Are take a lot of guidance from your opinion. Yeah younger viewers as well I think a lot of people, you know, they carry a lot of weight your opinion So how do you think how do you go about the reviews and Did you bear that in mind when you're reviewing? Um What I bear in mind is I want to test the product fairly I will take the information on from the manufacturer. Yeah. Yeah, you know Probably like yourself. I The manufacturers will come and visit me and you know, give me a presentation That's all well and good and I'll take that information on and go right Let me dive through what they're actually saying. Yeah. Yeah, let me let me understand what they're actually trying to you know Mark it. Yeah And my responsibility as long as I've delivered this I want to always deliver an honest fair Test and review, you know that I feel like I've ticked every box I always want to give beautiful close-ups. Yeah, something I'm super passionate about because again A lot of golfers don't get chance to see the product You know, I want to give the best possible close-ups I can give And I want to test it fairly as I can possibly test the product Which I'll you know, I've developed my testing process to make sure that happens I want to test it against lashes models I want to test it against the older model that comes out that same year So if it's m5 m6 to put them up against each other We'll also test them against m3 m4. Yeah, take them out in the golf course So now I feel like I've then got a very rounded Opinion on that product because I've done everything that I can I'll then deliver the review and as long as I can do that That's after that sound my control. I'll tell you the price. I'll tell you what I thought I'll tell you about my sound the sound that I liked or didn't like Whether I like the looks or didn't like that's subjective as you know These are my numbers compared to where I normally hit them to After that as far as you can go After that, yeah, and I'll review a product and hand on heart when I've put it together and edited it I'll go. Yeah, that's as good a job as I could have done And then the next time I review it, you know continue to evolve it and you know get it to a point where I'm happy I mean again watching from afar your reviews is a bit that has come on quite a lot in the last maybe two three years and To be fair that they're pretty much the They're the barometer aren't they in terms of do you feel like that? Do you feel you're setting a bar with it in terms of It's so they get well viewed. Yeah Um I think you well, I may be the quite you happy with the way it's gone and in terms of they've developed a lot haven't they You know, what's really interesting on there and it's it's something that I've realized over the time of reviewing products is I was The first reviewer online to be hitting golf shots with a live launch monitor giving numbers So I hit golf shot flights go up at the time I was at Trafford and I was telling you how far the driver went there and then done And I would give and this was when numbers were still quite new and nobody was really well Nobody was doing I was pumping out the numbers and then it this massive tidal wave of almost over um analysis of numbers came in And I'm still seeing People get a bit guilty now. Yeah, just a real in depth of every shot every number and you think You know what? So this last Six months even probably 12 months Stripping a lot of that back and actually just telling people what they need to know They don't need to know every single shot and every single spin rate and launch angle and all this jazz I'm going to tell you the the the important numbers. Yeah, and that's where you need to be um And and what I've always done in the past as well, and maybe this is where I've become a lot more Um comfortable with the content is let's say I got a driver I would review or let's say it was two drivers m5 m6 I would review m5 on its own and have done a head-to-head on its own I've done this this this produced 10 videos with this driver. Yeah, doesn't say me this driver Yeah, and I then gone back to compare it to last year's models. Yeah Well now I just want one Phenomenal video. Yeah, that actually does everything. Yeah, you're going to watch one 10-minute video We get online and you're going to get everything you're going to get m5 m6 m3 m4 this this this this Wraps up into one really well polished produced video that you can watch and I'm proud of and it tells you everything Yeah, and that's kind of and that's reflected in the views. So, isn't it really because your views are, you know Up massively. Yeah, I can see. Yeah less videos maybe and like you said, but greater views considerably. Yeah, just You know a couple of years I was releasing 300 videos a year. Yeah, probably even probably more I was really trying to release at least one a day at least one a day and sometimes even two a day go back in the day Don't know how I slept This was when that's tough going. Well, this was where I did everything myself, right, you know Filmed everything edited everything, you know really grinded. Yeah, and it was fine. It was good. Oh, yeah You did it because because I was seeing it develop as a girl. You're all yeah I was motivated and excited to do it and I was passionate about it the The challenge where it got to then is that obviously having children Yeah, I've got three children three young children three children Yeah, I've got four year old a two year old and a six month old. Yeah a lot of work here. So obviously life Yeah, a teaching career a youtube career. It was like, whoa, yeah, there's going to be a point here where I gave you But also so there's that side of it which was my personal development and my personal You know stresses, let's say boss and when I started to look at Creators and certainly successful creators. They didn't release every day. Yeah. Yeah, and it was actually more well Let's make really really good videos. Yeah less of them. Yeah, you know, you know You get more enjoyment out of that. Do you think by doing that? I get really excited about every upload Yeah, yeah Where before it felt more I was put I was pumping. Yeah, and you almost never got to appreciate the content Yeah, it was like right that one's done next. Yeah, that one's done next That's where now like I get videos right to the point and I'm like sometimes and I still get guilty of it Very rarely now. I'll have a video in my head that I'm going to release Monday. Yeah But I've had it finished my this has finished it for Friday. Yeah, you want to put it out? Yeah, yeah Add it this week. Yeah, and it's because I'm so like this is an amazing video I want people to see it this second. I don't want to delay it So but I'm getting better at being able to you know Schedule things be able to plan things to be able to go. No, let the last video breathe. Yeah, that's it Let it develop let it get to a point where you know, it's had a couple of weeks or a week on the channel It's still getting really good views. Yeah And then go well, there's the next one. Yeah, you know every every successful There's maybe that bit as well from the anticipation of the audience and more, you know They're waiting for the next one. Yeah, you've got them sort of waiting. I think it's a fine line I think you can't leave them waiting. Yeah. Yeah You know, I think if it got months down the line Yeah, I will actually start to lose a bit of relevance But you know, I like to upload twice a week You know, if I if I can get if I can get two uploads to really high quality well produced videos a week I'm over the moon. Yeah, okay Back onto the actual product itself No quick answer really, but do you think tech has developed much in the seven years you've been doing? Obviously you've been focused on product for a while. I do. Yeah, it gets a hard rap tech a lot inside I think tech, you know, I don't think the manufacturers help themselves in it. Yeah, but they've got they've got to I think it's down why they've got to market it. I do I think the challenge that they've had over the last few years is that You know The audience are becoming more switched on to there is limits. Yeah Well, I don't think before YouTube reviews. Yeah, they were aware That's true. Yeah So I think because of YouTube reviews and because there's more education out there that the drivers have become to a limit Let's say. Yeah the Drivers now feel like they were the point where they can't progress, but I'm still see I'm still seeing progression each year I'm still it's marginal granted So you throw that back seven years. Yeah Yeah, 100% I've seen differences like without question Even if it was Two yards a year it's 14 yards. Yeah, you know, I look back at some of the old videos and granted I was testing on a different launch monitor, but I'm hitting it further now drivers further. Right. Now, that's the only balance I'm bigger. I'm stronger. I'm I've played more golf So maybe I've developed as well, which is hard to Analyze, but I definitely know products as reviewed now and I've I've tested that So I've done driver tests where I've done the last um Five ten years of tightest driver ten Tights drivers, ten years of Callaway drivers, ten years of Ping drivers, ten years of Tel Aviv drivers And the new one goes further than the last one. Yeah, yeah You know, there's some annul is in there sometimes where you get a really fast driver But over the time period drivers have a hundred percent. Is there a product and I put sort of so drivers irons Golf ball there's anything else I've missed out there putters wedges. Yeah wedges Is there anything you've seen one product range in particular that's progressed you think or is progressing? Um, the one that changed the bar. I always felt was the SLDR Yeah, yeah, yeah You know the weight forward. Yeah high launch low spin. Yeah, I think because Manufacturers have been a bit more savvy with having technology launch monitors. They'd realized Hold on if we get this launching high and low spinning this could work. Yeah for distance. Yeah Tor pros had tremendous success with it because they could hit the middle of the club face Yeah Guys who could hit the middle of the club face had great success. Yeah for everyone else really struggled and coincidentally Even though they developed from that launch wanted to information Apparently SLDR almost happened as an accident. Wow. They put the weight forward just to see what it was like and realized Oh my god, this is really changing spin Right Well now because when they first released that SLDR if you remember they never showered about loft up Yeah, it wasn't a thing. They released a driver Realized everybody's dipping it 500 rpm less spin and then suddenly going. Oh You got a lot of guys like to make this work. You got it up. Yeah, so I think that one changed the bar a little bit um and then Adjustable weights obviously that's happened a long time. Um, I'm trying to think of the other clubs I The tp5 for me is a big one as well the golf ball tp5 is It's been one of those balls that have come in and shocked the world a little bit and like hold on a bit of a change Everyone used to use pro v Yeah, now everyone's using tp5 and not everyone but a lot of people now using tp5 That was another big one as well putters things like the spider Yeah spider bringing that moment of inertia right back to their head has helped our putters become more consistent So from a tall level and an amateur level So then when you so then when you talk about developments over seven years and just going through that product range there for anybody you sort of Doubts it. I mean just we you've just mentioned four or five products there that suggests that clearly there has been the developments, haven't they? You know, it's it's hard to ignore There's definitely been developments And I would say that's only really even tapping into equipment You think of other things like, you know, the fitness developments that have happened all the time the coaching developments that's happened all the time the The apparel of footwear The launch one is today to that we get now the the measuring devices your gps stuff or your Lasers thing a lot. You know, I think the only thing is that golfers have got to a point where maybe they're not utilizing every single one of these yet But that's okay. That's going to come. Yeah, that's going to come with time You've got the you've got all the tools there that have been developed over the last 10 years or so It's now time for the golfers to start implementing these tools a little bit more officially into their game That's where golf coaches, etc. And information comes very valuable. So, yeah, it's definitely developed But it's it's What the question is so I'd say it's moved the question is A lot is hard to Specify yeah, yeah So a lot to me might be seven yards But to Joe average it might be 30 yards. They want to see that's that's the hard balance of what is actually Quantifiable change. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Now then back to a little bit back to youtube as a as a thing. Yeah your channel as such, but um A lot of people there's been an influx of Creators in terms of golf youtube over the last two years. Would you say maybe it's a great two years? Yeah, uh It's changed myself in a couple years. I would say so. Yeah, it seemed For a long time. There was kind of three or four channels. Yeah, and now, you know And I I'm sure we'll touch on at some point even the youtube golf day that I'm looking at planning Yeah, the amount of creators that have applied. I'm like, whoa, where's everyone coming from? Yeah, yeah, because I didn't know after youtube. Yeah, yeah, it's crazy What what what would be your what what's your thoughts on if you advise anybody out there at the moment Who's thinking of setting up a golf youtube channel? Is it still a good time to get into do you think? What do you think? Should we tell people not to? We don't want people to say away. Yeah, don't you know what don't bother if you're looking at making a youtube channel do not bother Stay away It's bloody hard. Yeah. Oh, it is. Yeah, it definitely is like and I don't like to admit I don't openly like to say it's hard because I don't want it to ever feel like it's hard Yeah, I want to I want to produce a piece of content that you know a viewer will watch and go Wow, I really enjoyed that and that seemed that seemed seamless. Yeah, well just seamless like you'd watch a movie and think Yeah, I don't care how that was made. Yeah, some people might be interested. Yeah, so Setting up a youtube channel right now. I think it's got advantages and disadvantages compared to when I started even probably when you started because how long have you been doing it for now? Probably three years. Yeah Yeah When I Registrated there was probably two creators on the platform that were doing golf content me my golf and mark rossfield. Yeah, yeah and I probably came in as maybe a few more actually but not many Certainly not that are any around now if i'm honest And um, so at the time, you know, maybe the channels were getting 10 000 subscribers So I thought well, that's that's what I'm going to aim for 10 000 subscribers I think channels coming in now see the likes of me my golf and myself up to half a million subscribers and that's It's it's a benefit that there is half a million subscribed golfers Who are subscribed to youtube channels on golf which weren't there when I first started so there's a market that exists. There's a market But on the flip side There's no guarantee you're going to get that market. It's more saturated. Yeah, it's more saturated It's harder to be able to stand out from the crowd But if you come with an idea if you come with motivation if you come with A difference that separates you from everyone else that people want to think he's always handy. It's what people want to watch Yeah, like you could be different. I really appreciate friday's and randy. I know you do. Yeah, I love his content Because it's very different. Yeah, but it's not everyone's liking. No. No, he's never going to get You know the mass views. He's not no bless him Yeah But it's not But that that's where so coming into youtube now You've got to be different But you've got it if you really want to be successful I don't what how you'd quantify that in many different respects and terms Is you've got to be different but a difference that People want to watch. Yeah, and I think that's really bloody hard. Yeah. Yeah, because all the time I'm trying to evolve into that role. I'm trying to evolve into a role where I'm making content that more people would like to watch And I've had seven years experience someone trying to start from scratch now Yeah, it's tough. I wouldn't I wouldn't like to start now. No, but I think it's like you say Original content is very tough to make isn't it? And I think like you said when there's so many people already having to go with it in one way shape or form I think I think original content and Better content though can sometimes get mixed up. I think you don't always have to be first To be the most successful. Yeah. Yeah I think making the best content Separate you from anyone else doesn't have to be that they're most original idea everybody, you know I'm sure every single, you know, apple weren't the first ever computer company, but the best You know, yeah, even even apple weren't the best phone company. Yeah, but now they're the best So I think I think coming into it. You've got to just be better than everyone else You don't always have to be the first or really original You can forge other ideas of other people, but just be better than everyone else. I think that's the big trick So there's still opportunities there to get involved But I also wouldn't bother If you like your sleep Yeah, yeah, you like a lifestyle of some some hours, you know Yeah, I mean like I say, I can't rip it because it's forged me a wonderful career and I've loved every bit But it's bloody hard and unfortunately you put yourself out there and sometimes you might get Some horrible comments sent to you which is funny as well But it's one of those things that if you if you're passionate about it and you really want to do it Maybe set up a fortnight youtube channel. Yeah A gaming channel you've got more chance. Yeah, I think that's what I'll do next time All right, so golf in general first of all few quick fire questions links or parkland or other I suppose Oh, that's a great question. You know what growing up? I was always partland. Yeah Probably because that's where I've played most of my golf. Yeah, you know, Manchester area used to play a lot of partland hated links right Hated right. I remember the first time I ever played links golf. I was like, this isn't golf. Yeah. Yeah. This is what the hell is this There's almost like I've been brought up in like America I'm not I'm not a fan of links golf. It's unfair This it's that it's this. Yeah Now I absolutely love it. I love it for a number of reasons one the chat become accepting of the challenge That yeah, it might be unfair. It might whatever I love the fact that, you know, when you whenever you play links golf, of course, it's always in phenomenal condition I love that about it. You get running fairways and firm greens and fast greens And fairly placed bunkers and always well screwed. Well, um Put together bunkers Visually for myself as well. I actually prefer playing a hole which is has got a guidance of where the fairway is Tree line. Yeah I found a tree line just feels like oh god. I've got a like trying to get it through that gap where links It's a bit more open. Yeah, you've got a you've got a guidance of a runway So if you do spray it offline, yeah, you might be in the thick rough, but it's not the underworld And I like that about it. I'm I'm playing wild because that's a real thing for me, you know I'm a much better player. I'm only average as you are If I play decent golf, I'm a I always think I'm a far better player on links golf than I am at a tight park Of course for the reasons you've just said I wonder how many other people are I'll play one of my favorite courses in the uk is somewhere like wolburn. Yeah, love it. I think it's spectacular I could never shoot a scorn out there I could never put a number around there because I stand in every team go. Yeah, holy Yeah, that's it. Yeah, I've got to get it through there. And I love the golf course I would I mean I would probably just have to play it a lot more often. Yeah, um, you know But for me links, it just gives you a guidance That's where roughly you need to hit it. Yeah, but if you're off that it feels like you can still It feels like can smash a drive And if you don't quite get it online, it's not the end of the world and you can scurry and you can scrape Yeah, you can still score grind around the links golf and I love that challenge of the weather as well They generally you've got a wind blowing and I I'm a massive fan of links golf. Well, there you go. That's great Um, do you still get chance to enjoy around the golf or is it a bit busman's holiday? No, I do now. Yeah, again because I've changed the shaping of the channel and I don't Play as much golf on the channel now. I don't document playing. Let's say when I was doing Yeah, yeah um I will often play a little bit more golf with with friends or or if I have a business meeting down south I might have a business meeting and go and play nine holes or you know Golf now doesn't always need to be attached to a camera, which I'm a big fan off. Yeah Goal plan doing the blocks the course. I love them. Yeah, and I still I still Know that they will be part of the channel still, you know moving into this year and future What I was just struggling with it takes a long time to film You've got to plan a lot. Yeah, you got to get someone else there or multiple people You've got to get permission from the golf courses, which was pretty fine in the end to be fair You then got to play around the golf which is along round the office often five hours when you're vlogging it Um, you've got to put it all together the content. There's a lot of content to put together That you then flip you then throw in shot tracers drill footage and everything else and it's wonderful when it comes together. It's wonderful But then it also it was like You've then split it up into two or three parts and it's like I'm not sure if this is the best use of time I'm actually better using this day. Yeah to either plan better content. Yeah, or just create better content You know, so I struggle with them personally. I struggle. Remember you're saying you didn't like from years Yeah, I've started doing a more I think one because it made me nervous in terms of playing golf I was always like Christ, there's a camera on don't make a mess of it So that ruined I just want to go out and enjoy playing golf I've got better at that I suspect but it's still um, it's everything you've just said I've done some recently and you look at the views you get and the time and effort you go into it and you think Is this really what I should be doing? You know, I did but I did something the other week where we did nine holes In a match play and then they use the back nine to do some club reviews The difference in time and effort compared to views ratio is incredible And that's it's more the fact of you know, you could definitely quantify it from a view standpoint it's also the fact that you know Your time is spent Your time is precious. Yeah, and when you're producing content for a channel You've got to Utilize every opportunity and you've got to utilize every minute of the day. Let's say You then throw in I say from my standpoint coach down top of that family life All the entities that I'm trying to do You've got a day then have been out of the golf course filming is lovely. Yeah, but the best use of time potentially Yeah, so so um, I've got some course logs coming up soon. Actually, I've got a second hand club challenge with Pete I can't wait. Yeah. I'm excited. Yeah. And I think the audience is going to be excited. Yeah, they're waiting because they've not seen it for six Oh, yeah, yeah, there's all this like are you Pete falling out and all this chance It's not the case. It's just that you know, Pete's playing a lot. Yeah, and I'm not not playing as much So that's just going to happen like that. So we've got a second hand club challenge Which we're filming at the end of March, which is going to be out middle of April. I'm not sure when you're releasing this um And I'm excited because I've not had it for a while. No, he's going to absolutely tonk me. You're really right There's a full-time player He does a bit to be fair. There's a full-time player a little bit of a trip with him in back end of october And he said he's a damn good player Certainly when he plays every day. Yeah. Yeah. So yeah, I'll have to do my best. I'll have to be some camera I'll have to get some shots off him. Yeah, or or I'll edit the videos. Yeah. Yeah, and then I'll win What what do you think of the um, what do you think of general state of golf at the minute? I mean, it's a big question. But just overall is it kind of um, it's a big question. Um, You know, I think it's in a good spot. Yeah I don't I've not got anything to back that up. I've not got any evidence or stats to back that up But personally, I feel like it's in a good spot. I feel like Certainly through social media. I think obviously getting tiger back in the game. Yeah, they do. I think we've got some good personalities in golf now guys like I think justin thomas is great for the game I think someone like bruce keppke is really good for the game and if justin johnson a few others I feel like that side of it. So the professional game Is somewhat doing its bit to help. Yeah grow the game I think golf is now and and again, we've seen it online, you know, I'm getting I get about 4 million views a month and maybe about 6 million in the summer They're watching golf content. Yeah, that's only on my channel. So yeah, yeah, yeah, 50 channels that are doing it now Golf is being consumed way more than what it ever used to be 10 years ago You then throw in all the instagram the twitter the facebook You are constantly, you know Almost to some degree bombarded with golf. It's hard for a golfer to switch off from golf Yeah, I just want to get away from it for a bit But it's I mean again the social social media aspect is a huge platform that wouldn't have existed to promote golf 10 years ago So again, I was gonna ask about so almost as to be self is the positivity that social media youtube channel gives towards golf in general? I think is I think so. Yeah, I don't Not negative really not really You know, there's no channels out there going golf is terrible. Don't play golf. Yeah, you know a lot of channels Who get out there saying golf's great. Yeah, look at all these fantastic places You can go look at all these fantastic Yeah, you know and even I've experienced I've did a video recently where I bought a set of clubs of 70 quid And I said you can you know what you can still play golf It doesn't have to be a lot of money. You can still get involved and I think again We it's always talked about attracting the younger audience and you've got to assume again I don't know when he stats on numbers, but you've got to assume that that these channels Platforms have got to be My channel is predominantly made up between 25 and 30 four year olds Which is a key market for attracting golf is huge. Yeah Yeah, so it's it's you know I don't know the stats between I love to know a bit more about this But youtube doesn't give me these stats We won't be able to but how many golfers how many people are actually golfers compared to non golfers I feel like I do make a lot of content aimed at non golfers You know I play golf with the tallest man in europe recently You know seven foot seven inches There's no way. I think that's been viewed 600 000 times. There's no way. That's all All golfers. Yeah. Yeah, it can't be. Yeah, so people come into that video. I like this is quite cool Oh my god. I'll tell this thing. Oh god. He plays golf. Yeah. God. I thought golf was just for X person Oh, actually it's not. Oh, you can buy clubs at a custom thing. Yeah. Oh, you can get out and do Oh, you can buy golf shoes in size 50. I mean I'm using that as a crazy example But I think making content now that is That's certainly something I'm really trying to aim for it's not just aimed at your hardcore Memory of a golf club. Yeah, I want to make content like the 70 pound golf clubs that I bought That people come into it and might just be flicking through youtube and might have an interesting sport. Just suddenly go That's quite cool. Yeah. Yeah 70 quid for set clubs. Yeah, I'll do it My mate plays golf and he always says it's gonna cost me two and a half grand. Yeah. Oh, that's interesting And I can do that or I can watch this I can watch this Catalog of instruction videos go for the free of charge. Yeah. Yeah. I mean that's gotta be good for the game I don't so I don't know the stats and You know, everyone I speak to in the industry seems to be sometimes a bit on a bit of a download But it's like not everybody in the industry, but some people in the industry a bit of a download I personally feel like I don't know any stats No, well it suggests otherwise, doesn't it? Like you said if you took your channel alone and just analyze that in terms of that There's a lot of positivity that you would think got to think so a lot of people get involved in it And that's something that I'm really passionate about. You know, I bloody love golf. Yeah, you know, I love golf Yeah, and that's all we all do. Yeah, you know And if I can stand there and get excited about hitting products or hitting a golf course I love or being on the golf course I love or being with friends and playing golf or just having that passion for golf Even if that I don't want to get on this You know silly rambi, but somebody watch that and go god, he looks like he's playing golf And I think that's important to relay that into that's the enthusiasm you're translating videos Well, it's important to do. I need to do that, Rick. I've always got this face that suggests miserable. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, I've got to work on that Yeah, I've got to work on that You know what I love and this is this is some side of my golf Golf youtubers watching go Things aren't quite where I need to be. I love the fact that dynamic is different So I can review your products as a professional golfer and uh, whatever You can review your products as an average golfer You've got Alex reviewing a product who smashed it as hard as he can you got other people reviewing products Who might look at it in a different way. That's all good. Yeah. It's not a bad thing. Yeah You know, it's not a negative, you know People will fall into their category and watch which whoever creator they want And see well, actually I relate more to Andy So when I watch more Andy my swing speed is more like Andy or like Harry says it or like Harry Has a more skeptical eye or whatever and then if I want to watch a puppy dog hitting a driver Which is more like me. I'll go and watch an excited puppy dog hitting a driver and whatever it may be So I don't think it's a bad thing. Yeah. Yeah, good. No, but I'm sure I should cheer up though If it last question on this general golf if you wasn't a golf coach or I know you're when you're golfed youtube an hour or so But maybe it's the career having to talk you towards being a golf coach. Yeah, what would you've been doing? um You know what it's really funny this weekend I was at a kid party and I bumped into a A dad of a schoolmate of mine who I had a kid at the party too and we were chatting away and asking you You know, oh, what does such a lad do now? He's what does such a lad do now? And there was such a mixed array of jobs that they were doing I have no clue. You wouldn't know you wouldn't know what you're doing. You know I've always had a passion and coming out of school. I had two main qualifications I didn't do particularly great at school. I had a good qualification in PE physical education and drama. Right. So active, right I've somehow blended those together to create a job Yeah So god knows where what would have happened. Yeah, if not, yeah, I might have been on my stand. Is that what you call it? I might have been doing a show on my stand or I might have been a PE instructor or I don't know I I always felt like they those two things I was never a big fan of written content. Yeah, never a big fan of you know I always remember magazines over the last few years have asked me can I do written content? I'm like It's not for me. I'm not right. It's funny in a way that we even even from your school days Crazy, crazy Yeah, and even my mum my mum she's not um She she got me into golf, but she also used to run a football team She used to like organize a Saturday football team and again Maybe being involved in that organization of a sports team And then the mix of drama my sister's very theatrical amount, you know, I've always had that My mum and my sister have always been like dancing and shows and all this They may be me blended into that and then the PE and then passion of golf Suddenly destiny got me here and again sat myself with So youtube charity golf day Still a lot of it is sort of Top secret at the moment. Yeah under wraps. You know Playing in it. Yeah. Yes. Definitely excited to get you involved Um, it's under wraps at the moment for a number of reasons and I'm not sure when this video is going to go out. Yeah, but When we announce collectively youtube golf day is it getting close very really an element. Yeah, tremendous approach, right So, um, there's a reason for not so we've got a Day lockdown venue lockdown Creators are all locked down. Yeah We had 80 odd channels enter which is bonkers Um, but not everyone can afford to play in the day. So there's only a select amount that could not select But it's all based on the views of reach and all that more reach Um at the moment. I've not announced everything publicly yet because there's a risk of The venue that we're going to use Things getting it. I don't I don't know what the audience already. Yeah. Yeah, basically So it's going to happen. It's going to be club. It's charity golf day. It's going to be phenomenal Um, I think the content that's going to be created on the day is going to be really exciting This is the whole idea is to get people to collaborate together. Yeah So it's never been done before where all golf channels have come together Um, I've had the idea in the back of my mind for about two years And it was january this year. It's come together quick though on it really when you think because it was too quick. Yeah I'm not in a good way. So it's come together really quickly. Yeah, and at the moment Let's say the audience everyone are each into no more information Which I understand. Yeah, but I've got to I've just got to get it to a point where it's like, right Now it can be talked about because it anything that happens before that if anything Potentially jeopardizes that it could ruin the whole day. Yeah. And this thing was this was just risks like security risks and all So be patient it will cool. It is believe me if you follow any channel on youtube that are playing in the golf day I'm cross social media instagram youtube, etc. You will not Miss when or where the yeah, yeah, so just yeah, yeah, you'll know you'll know about it. You know way more than everyone else Yeah, yeah, well, I'm very excited about it already what I know So I appreciate you keeping it top secret as I have done all the creators keep it top secret at the moment Yeah, I've got a more sworn honor On a confidentiality. Well, I had a the next question was exclusive reveals, but we can't reveal anything Do you study all there? I'll let me I'll give you one exclusive reveal um The only exclusive so currently Channels that are playing in the day Have a total reach of over 17 and a half million. Wow Wow, that's incredible, aren't it? Yeah So that's that's why obviously some of those are going to be mixed up But some creators Not in not particularly in the world of golfer playing in it as well And they've got a huge following. Wow. So that's kind of my my exclusive reveal. So like 17 that's why I have to control it. Yeah, if I didn't control it when you're now today I don't know what could happen. Yeah I'm sure you're all getting very excited anyway. I mean like I said, I know I know minimal amounts at this stage Spectators will be will be available to come But it's just got to be manned right because if we just say turn up Then how do I know 50 000 people are going to turn up? They're not they're not going to be but hopefully so I'll stay I just felt a pressure then when you've spent spectators. You just said then so that'll be like people standing at the sides Yeah, we're needing to bring security in for the spectators. Yeah. Yeah Look Andy, I was like, I'm actually what was that day again? I can't make that day Yeah, so it's going to be and there'll be there'll be a drone band I'll have one drone out there and that's it cool or otherwise it will be drone walls Right, I'm going to end with just two more questions. Rick's been fantastic sitting through this I've been great. I've enjoyed it. Two questions to go Uh as a golfer. Yes, you can win one major. Okay, what which one and why? You see it's got to be between the masters in the open, hasn't it? Um My head says the open my heart says the masters like The masters for me is is like just imagine that right? It's just like forever Yeah, I mean in the open you're etched into you know history books forever But I feel like the masters but I'll stick to my route. I'll go the open. Yeah The open championship. I think just for the fact that it is the most prestigious major tournament Yeah, um, you know, yeah the pop maybe the popular choice would be the masters. Yeah, it's a tough one. I think maybe I think I'd be in exactly the same boat and I think because of the history and because of The fact that it's on this soil. Maybe I choose the open. Can I throw a question back at you then? So if you won the masters there's one that I've always thought about just The next year you get to obviously supply the meal. Yes, what would you what would be on what would be on the menu? I'd probably be you know, I think someone did it a couple years ago. I'm more of a burger and chips man I do I do something very sort of uh stripped back and really okay. Yeah, I think that's interesting. Yeah, what about yourself? Um, I think I'd go something kind of like quite English and traditional like a proper roasting Yeah, yeah because you can imagine like tiger and the guys are just talking into like a massive Yorkshire puddin One of those big Yorkshire puddings and fill that up fill it you have a car everywhere It's like unlimited. You know how you play and the guy who plays the plate the most wins a prize and all that But yeah, that's what I'd go about. I'll be nice to have apple pie for dessert And then a weird starter. I've probably thrown like a pate, which doesn't go with anything that you've thought about this So you've obviously dreamt of winning the masters dream. Yeah, what thought that is? Yeah, just being there last year was enough for me. Yeah, right last question One round of golf left. Okay in your days. Where are you going to play? Okay, well, this is easy now because last question, right? So let's say I win the open Yeah, I can have the climate joke home in my you know downstairs toilet or putting the downstairs toilet. So then The course I'd want to play for the rest of my life forever. Augusta. Yeah. Yeah, it's very not finished. Yeah, I mean this Yeah, there's probably There's always talks about pine valley the one of the other one in the usa is supposed to be better, you know Number one court. I think it's ridiculous exclusive. Right. Uh, but for me, you know The memories that I could even vision around augusta I would literally spend every day trying different shots like the cusin of 13 and tiger on 16 and bugger on 10 Yeah, so like that's what for me would and that's what I think so magical about the masters is it has these Phenomenal memories attached to a piece of landing in augusta. It's it's mental. It's that I mean it's the I don't it's the best tournament of the year. I think for me. It probably is visually to watch But I think it's maybe because it kicks everything off. Yeah, it's that first one We all get excited for it and watching it generally in great sunshine and all the drama Yeah, Sunday afternoon. It feels like the golf season Right now we start a march. I guess it's the players this week. We've just had the bay hill Yeah, you know before that Why would you play that wherever it felt the wgc like it's felt exciting so far Like I've always envisioned and I might be wrong in this like five years ago Like the masters for me was the first time. Yeah, they kicked it off. Yeah And now it feels like the season's 12 years 12 months of the year, which is great. Yeah Good for golf I've got to say that's my final question and uh, I've enjoyed every minute of it. I've enjoyed all these It was it's been nice to have a face-to-face because it's it's so much different like I said than the previous two Um, I hope you've enjoyed it. I did. Thanks so much for having me. Yeah, I think this this idea of you know I briefly started a podcast and the last year and the thing that was missing was guests so, uh Hopefully you don't be offended and potentially set one up like this, but yeah Can I use the studio? Is that all right? Yeah Anytime you want. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I know it's pretty good. You know, I think the fact of you know, you asked me You know, I've seen the content you've been doing. It's been really good. It's definitely been Yeah, yeah It's hard at first like I say, it's you know, I know you've got other businesses and jobs So it's it's a hard balance, but um, you know, you're doing a great job And you know the fact that you've got this awesome setup going on and you know You are approaching guys like alex and randy and me and whoever you're else you've got. Yes No, hopefully this disc if any creators are watching and Andy approaches you this this was fun. Brilliant. Thanks so much What a massive compliment that is. Yeah, brilliant. Thank you. Yeah, great and uh, like I always say thank you all for watching Um, I normally say at this point uh to go and subscribe to rick's channel Make sure you do. Let's be saying that uh, but thank you for watching. You won't even notice on your page, you're not even subscribed to my channel. What a terrible thing to have done that is Cut this. How did you spot this? How did you spot that? um, yeah comments down below um Thumbs up if you like the video all them things, but uh I've a great time But if you are coming if you are coming over from my channel, make sure you subscribe to andy as well Doesn't top quality stuff. Yes. Awesome. See you. See you soon