RICK Shiels is a social media icon of the golfing world, with nearly 3 million fans around the globe.
He has gained popularity through his informative golf equipment reviews and video tutorials.
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In June 2019, Rick Shiels Golf became the largest golf-themed channel on YouTube when it surpassed half a million subscribers.
Rick used his platform to raise £15,000 for Prostate Cancer UK that year, hosting the first YouTube Golf Day.
His videos have featured a number of celebrities, including pop star Robbie Williams and former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall.
Alongside his main channel, Rick also hosts his own podcast with more than 250k subscribers on YouTube.
“We’ve done 304 completed near-perfect episodes,” said Rick in one of his recent episodes of The Rick Shiels Golf Show, as he announced a renewal of the series.
Is Rick Shiels a professional golfer?
Born and raised in Bolton, Rick began playing golf at Hart Common Golf Club in Westhoughton at the age of 11.
Ten years later, he started working at Mere Golf and Country Club in Cheshire, after completing his training with the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) and becoming a qualified pro.
He earned a diploma in golf studies at Myerscough College, where he studied alongside fellow YouTuber Peter Finch.
He initially launched his YouTube channel in 2011 as a way to attract more clients for lessons after he moved to the Trafford Golf Centre in Manchester.
As he has gained visibility in the field, he has partnered with major brands like Nike, Garmin, Mastercard, Lyle & Scott, and ECCO for content and apparel collaborations.
During the 2025 Masters in April, Rick took to social media with a snap of the menu from the Women’s Amateur staged at Augusta National.
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Who is Rick Shiels’ wife Claire?
Since 2013, Rick has been married to his wife Claire, whom he called “bloody fantastic” in his anniversary Facebook post.
He met her when he was 37, and their romance has been “incredible ever since”, he said.
They were recently spotted in the crowd at an Oasis concert in Manchester together.
Their three children have also “fallen in love with golf”, as Rick revealed on his Instagram post from the AIG Women’s Open this year.
“They have come away from the experience with an excitement about their own golf journeys,” he said.
“Getting to spend time watching some of the world best including Charley Hull and Nelly Korda has really inspired them.”
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Recently celebrating his 39th birthday, Rick has shared his experience with giving up alcohol a year ago.
“Honestly, I feel much better for it. More energy, more focus, better sleep. And I’d like to think it’s even helped my golf game a bit too,” he said.
“This isn’t me telling anyone what to do. It’s just something that’s worked for me, and I wanted to mark the moment. One year alcohol-free, and who knows where this journey takes me.”
