Thoughts on YouTube Golf Influencers?

[Ahmilla]

Curious to get the group consensus on golf influencers (i.e. Micah Morris, Good Good, Bob Does Sports, Fore Play etc.). Do you enjoy following these personalities on Instagram and YouTube or could you care less about them? Do you believe they have a net positive impact on the game of golf? 

[2Bad4u]

15 minutes ago, Ahmilla said:

Curious to get the group consensus on golf influencers (i.e. Micah Morris, Good Good, Bob Does Sports, Fore Play etc.). Do you enjoy following these personalities on Instagram and YouTube or could you care less about them? Do you believe they have a net positive impact on the game of golf? 

I must be in the minority because I don't watch any of the above YouTubers. That being said I'm assuming that they do have an impact on golf... but not necessarily a positive one.

 

EDIT: typo

Edited April 17, 2023 by 2Bad4u

[larrybud]

I think Rick Shiels is incredibly entertaining, and he's honest about his shortcomings (short game!).  He's about the only one I watch on any kind of regular basis. His production value is really good too.

 

Don't know the other guys.

[SEP1006]

Never watched any of the above or any other for that matter. Don't really care to nor do I have or ever had any social media account.

[Abh159]

4 minutes ago, 2Bad4u said:

I must be in the minority because I don't watch any of the above YouTubers. That being said I'm assuming that they do have an impact on golf golf... but not necessarily a positive one.

 

Same...

 

I watched about 30 seconds of one a while back (don't remember who but it was someone or some group that is very popular from what I was told). In that 30 seconds I must have hear them shout "bro" or "brah" at least a dozen times. That's when I knew I wasn't their target demographic.

[jholz]

My opinion is already out there in several threads on this forum... It's pretty clear.

 

Influencers of all types, as well as the concept of "influencing" itself, should be placed in a large hole.

 

Once in that hole...the hole should be covered up with a great deal of dirt. Lots of dirt. Many, many cubic feet of dirt. Perhaps some concrete rubble could be added in.

 

Once filled, that hole should be turned into a parking lot or softball field (something along those lines) - something that would utterly eradicate anyone's memory that a hole ever exited in that spot, or that anything was ever buried there.

 

Perhaps, if we were to do that, the existence of "influencers" and "influencing" would quickly fade from our memory and the world would be a better place.

 

That would me my ideal. I understand that others may feel differently.

[jholz]

3 minutes ago, larrybud said:

I think Rick Shiels is incredibly entertaining, and he's honest about his shortcomings (short game!).  He's about the only one I watch on any kind of regular basis. His production value is really good too.

 

Don't know the other guys.

 

I don't see Shiels as an "influencer" per se. That guy actually provides entertainment.

[jpking17]

Would be nice to see some if the "influencers" actually post a scorecard. 

[MattM97]

I watch a few of them favorite right now is the Bob Does Sport crew, I'm in their age bracket so kinda like watching me and my friends out there and they're ok at golf minus FP who's above average.

 

Have been watching more BustaJack lately and they're just 2 dudes that play courses with some guest and a cool series playing a course in each US state and do quality video work too.

 

ForePlayGolf I'm mostly interested in the Fixing Frankie series and the stuff with Trent as I find it interesting and more realistic, the holes with a pro are also good. 

 

Others like GoodGood I'm probably too old for but I do watch Micah and Grant time to time when at work and video looks decent.

 

Then there are a few other pages where I don't watch all the time but if they have a interesting topic mainly a club fitting or lesson or something I'll watch. I just like to consume content or just have it as background noise while at my desk at work. 

[Medson]

I did watch some of golf influencers' videos in 2021 and 2022. They were entertaining but provided little value. My point is the novelty seemed to wear off now. 

[GatorNate11]

Just now, jpking17 said:

Would be nice to see some if the "influencers" actually post a scorecard. 

Riggs would have some explaining to do….

 

I watch Foreplay now and then, at this point it’s pretty much for fixing Frankie or breaking 90. The scrambles with pros aren’t bad. Sometimes I’ll watch/listen if there’s someone on the podcast that interests me. Most of the golf “influencer” thing wears me out. I’ve tried to watch a couple others and I can’t do it. I’m too old, I suppose, and don’t have enough of an interest in social media type things to get into it

[shoot4par]

The Fried Egg and Tour Validated golf stuff is pretty good. (I don't really have an opinion on Micah Morris, Spiranac, Claire Hogle, Shiels, etc.) As for the barstool sports bros and Portnoy, they can all take a long walk off a short pier. 

Edited April 18, 2023 by shoot4par

[straightshot7]

The GoodGood videos are really good. It's fun and relaxing watching them do their 2v2v2v2 scramble rounds, etc. Go watch their videos from the Hawaii trip. Very enjoyable.

Can't stand the Barstool guys --- they suck at golf but I guess they appeal to some people. 

[knock it close]

I dislike most of them, the bigger issue I'm seeing is the main character syndrome spreading and I'm seeing guys filming and posting their round of golf when they have like 100 followers. I saw one guy got pissed because his playing group of randoms asked him not to film because he was slowing them down and buddy acted like they shot his dog. 

 

If some random showed up in my group and filmed every shot I'd be a little perturbed.

[third-times-a-charm]

I dont like vlogs or watching other people play golf so no. I find the challenges and etc childish and immature. I'm in a mid-30s age bracket.

 

I think I'm a few years too soon to be in the zone of people who care about this type of content but there's no denying it can pay dividends for the OEMs to corner this market and get their product in the hands of accounts with 100k+ followers.

[KimmerBH]

What exactly do they influence? I've never met a decent golfer actually give a damn about what these people post on their YT's, IG's, etc and I personally don't get it. The Good Good/Micah/Grant guys are just clowns imo but I guess they could appeal to the pre teen crowd since they're immature and annoying. The female influencers are even worse. Most of them can't play a lick but get attention because of obvious other assets. If you ever want a good laugh just read the YT comments on some of their vids. It's simp village lol. 

[jamgam]

I like watching YT golf.  I enjoy Bryan Bros and zac Radford.  BustaJack is fun.  Kinda background golf when I'm working or what not.

 

Others are not my style.  Not a fan of foreplay or good good.  I don't watch instruction at all

[Ethan DelGrosso]

As someone of a younger demographic I think I may have a slightly different outlook. Im a big gear head and love TXG’s videos. As for influencers I’m not the biggest Good Good fan. The yelling every time someone hits a green . . . appalling! Yes if your buddy got a hole in one I expect some hoots and hollers. But every video literally begins with an elaborate scream as a foreshadowing of what comes later in the video.
 

I like watching Grant Horvat and Micah Morris a bit more now as they have left good good and focus more on just playing good golf and matches. With the good good crew they just slowly suck more and more at golf and don’t seem to care. I want to see you work on your game, clubs and play if you are going to influence my game. As i prefaced before I’m a gear head but if you have to read the label on your shaft to know what it is I tend to be unimpressed.

Someone else touched a bit on the female golfers and while I’m not fully familiar with hem all Claire Hogle seems to be extremely knowledgeable and has an incredible swing.

[Blaiser]

Didn't realize people could have such strongly negative feelings about golf videos they don't have to watch.

 

I think they are great. Relatable golfers in the 0-12 range just having a good time. It's also a cool way to check out courses that otherwise wouldn't be on TV.

[ChipStrokes]

3 hours ago, SEP1006 said:

Don't really care to nor do I have or ever had any social media account.

…except for this one.  

[TiScape]

Call me cynical, but a brand new member w/5 posts asks a question like this. Just screams ‘market research’ to me. I’ll be happy to give a response if I’m compensated 😁

[TiScape]

22 minutes ago, Blaiser said:

Didn't realize people could have such strongly negative feelings about videos they don't have to watch.

 

Are you serious?! New on SM?? 😂 that’s funny! 

[Joepa324]

I liked Golfholics, but I think they stopped creating content.

[Mw1991]

Is No Laying Up considered influencers? I'm not sure but I really enjoy the Strapped series. I like NLU because they don't do the click baity BS most YouTube channels do. I have zero patience for that crap and don't watch videos with those types of titles. 
 

 

[EagleGSU]

I like watching GM Golf and Grant Horvat.  

[SEP1006]

1 hour ago, ChipStrokes said:

…except for this one.  

 

HAH, didn't know this counted as social media. 

[ChipStrokes]

2 minutes ago, SEP1006 said:

 

HAH, didn't know this counted as social media. 

😂😂i’m mostly just giving you a hard time but this place can be every bit as bad as reddit or twitter 

[SEP1006]

2 minutes ago, ChipStrokes said:

😂😂i’m mostly just giving you a hard time but this place can be every bit as bad as reddit or twitter 

 

 

No issues, this place is probably worse. Cost me way too much money !!!!!!!!!!

[kwcsports]

I've watched a few. Some of it is OK but I get tired of it quickly. Good for them though if they can make money and get companies giving them golf clubs. 

[gerger]

I enjoy them once in a while. It’s cool to see new courses and SOME of them have entertaining/likable personalities. Don’t think there is much of a negative impact. Golf getting more popular is good overall.