YouTube Golf has taken over the golf media landscape over the past couple of years.
While it is mostly dominated by native YouTube brands and creators like No stretch, well well, Bob sports, Grant Horvatetc., professional players have entered the fold.
Bryson DeChambeau has given the modern professional golfer the blueprint for what golf might look like beyond tournament play—and I believe others should follow suitas long as it doesn’t affect their game.
Want to know how much money Bryson makes from YouTube? Here it is our assessment IN only advertising revenue (not sponsorships or anything else).
Today, we’re going to talk about the pros and cons of starting a YouTube channel and who YouTube is best for (and some of the rules and regulations that come with it).
The pros and cons of building a YouTube channel
Before you say, “That’s stupid; the pros should stick to tournament golf,” answer me this: whether Your favorite golfer started a YouTube channel documenting their processes, would you act?
Chew on it for a bit.
Now, a professional golfer will have to evaluate the risk that comes with building a presence in the media, on standard social networks or on a video platform like YouTube.
You are willingly opening yourself up to public scrutiny in a more intimate way. Posting photos from tours on your Instagram is LOT unlike giving the audience access to life outside the course.
That said…
PRO
The most obvious pro is fan community you can build. You can only get so many people in post-round interviews. However, you can create a large following by peeling back the curtain on your life, your routines, and the habits that have shaped you into the golfer you are.
If it sounds a little invasive (pulling back the veil of your life), may be. But it can also be what you do. You can post a few videos a week, you can post a few videos a month – no one makes the rules.
Another professional: post-career optionality. That’s less for guys like Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and the greats who really will never struggle with money unless they’re extremely irresponsible with it. That’s more for those guys who are just cracking the top 100. They’re still making great money, but if their careers are relatively short, they might not have $10 million in the bank after retirement.
Why media (including YouTube) is a low-risk, high-reward option: Golf fans will always be interested in characters and stories from within the world of golf.
So, to repeat the good:
- Build a community of fans
- Pitch YouTube to a post-game career in golf media
- Make money being yourself while playing golf
This is why I love the media. While it takes some work, once you have an audience, you can make money just by being yourself online. Talk about what you care about, do what you care about and make money doing it.
Cons
It’s simple. Building a channel takes time and further puts you in the spotlight. If you want to live a quieter life out of the spotlight, maybe don’t start a YouTube channel (but maybe don’t be the best golfer in the world because that would make you too).
Here are some basic cons:
- Shooting time
- Mental energy
- Narrative narrative
- Travel possible
All this should replace something: practice, family time, rest, recovery, etc.
Of course, if a golfer has simply logged his usual day of practice, practice, rest, recovery, etc., then he doesn’t have to sacrifice much. They just need to start thinking about telling a good story every time they’re out there being filmed can be taxing. And if a golfer is in their prime, they may be best suited just to practice.
Another major obstacle: If you start a channel and then struggle along the way, you open yourself up to serious scrutiny. Every video you make will be flooded with comments of “you need to practice”, “you can’t hit these shots when it matters most”, “stop playing on YouTube and practice your submission”. That said, no player is immune to this even on their social media.
YouTube just gives people a deeper look into everyday life if you’ve positioned your channel that way.
The PGA Tour has media rights rules that limit what can go on a player’s personal channel. Let’s break it down.
What can be shared and monetized on YouTube
Players can share and earn YouTube revenue and sponsorship dollars from:
- Practice rounds
- Individual non-tournament rounds
- Course predictions
- Travel days, training, recovery, routine
- Equipment defects
- Talk about strategy without featuring live footage of the competition
- Story behind the scenes
This content does not compete with the TV product, so you are good to go.
What can’t be shared or monetized on YouTube
Players may not:
- Load live tournament rounds
- Post replay clips of broadcast shots
- Share hole-by-hole competition footage
- Repackage streamed content with commentary
- Participate in unauthorized events
Basically, if someone can replace watching your standard stream with watching your YouTube channel, it is prohibited.
And if you are playing in one TV/Reported,paidGolf competition operating outside of the tournament is also not permitted.
This means that players have to create new content. They cannot poach from already recorded streams and use it as their own. Therefore, time con.
However, it is a common misconception that Tour players cannot have their own YouTube channel. They can do exactly what someone like Bryson does.
So, should pro gamers have YouTube channels or not?
I’ll give you the classic, it depends…
If you are in your prime on the golf course, a top 50 player and a tournament winner, it can benefit you to stay focused on golf performance.
If you are on tour, making good money, but may not be ready for superstardom, and may be interested in business and a career in golf after your playing career, start a YouTube channel. People want information from the inside world of golf. These guys can find ways to be themselves, keep golfing, meet movers and shakers in the golf industry, and make money.
It helps to be entertaining, but even if you’re not a DeChambeau-level entertainer, you have knowledge and expertise that people want. So share it with people, have fun with it, earn money.
Max Homa has created a community of fans through his engagement on Twitter but then again his appearance on Grant Horvat’s channelhe also has YouTube calling his name.
So open a channel:
- For future career options/financial security
- To build a bigger fan base
Do not open a channel:
- If you don’t want to be the center of attention after your career
- If you don’t want to use it to support a golf career (post-playing career)
Now tell me: Would you follow your favorite golfer if they started a YouTube channel?
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