McIlroy and influencers

[BiggErn]

56 minutes ago, golferdude54 said:

 

It's not that YouTube golf influencers are hurting others physically or mentally by doing what they want to do and make money at it.

 

It's that the YouTube algorithm shows them everywhere when one doesn't want to watch them at all, that's what the haters are mad about.

 

I mean, sometimes I want to search for exclusively Ben Hogan swing videos and nowadays the results are mostly "THIS IS BEN HOGAN'S SECRET" by random instructors.

 

Then blame the PGA tour. Blame all the professionals that participate. I can’t stand Rick Shiels but like Peter Finch. I usually ignore any Tom, dick, and Harry’s review on golf equipment but sometimes like watching TXG/CC (or use to) fittings and reviews. Not sure why the “algorithm” matters when you can just choose to subscribe and watch whatever….then there’s the search feature. 

[Cliffy2020]

I❤️YouTubeGolf

 

A little something for everybody at every skill level on demand.  Makes my cardio sessions at the gym go by so much quicker.

 

I really enjoy when the pros participate.  Hearing their insight, approach to the game, and personalities without their corporate hats on.  Any prospective pro players or mini tour guys are fun to watch too.  I think there’s value to see and hear how they play.  

 

I tend to stay away from the gimmicky bro-golf influencer types.

[buckrogers71]

2 hours ago, cassel191919 said:

A lot of awful drunk golfers jacking up the price of golf

THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[BlackDiamondPar5]

4 hours ago, Chunked said:

Such a weird thread. If you don’t like it then don’t watch it. 

Hard to ignore them when they are part of Full Swing.  One of them scarcely has a following but somehow he's an "influencer?"

[Ferguson]

The world number one might need another, new caddie. 

 

 

[IndyArcher]

5 hours ago, Ferguson said:

 

These people promise nothing and deliver nothing. They show fancy things and make videos.  They are mostly wrong and accountable to no one. 

 

 

 

 

Influencer =  

 

 

 

 

So, basically like posting on a forum except they draw enough attention to make money at it. Now I’m getting a bit jealous of them!

[Fairways_and_Greens]

On 3/13/2025 at 9:20 AM, IndyArcher said:

 

I don't follow any of them, but why is it more outrageous to collect a paycheck to make golf content than it is to collect a paycheck to play golf? I have a difficult time envisioning how one is bad and the other good.

Exactly. Just like there are MMA, Boxing, and Wrestling fans, there can be PGA, LIV, and YouTube fans....

 

And it's perfectly fine to enjoy all three, or look down your nose at the other. It's all good!

[BlackDiamondPar5]

16 hours ago, SoCalTitleist said:

Have these influencers actually influenced anything ?

Yes. Unfortunately it's attracted the attention of the backward hat wearing, drunken, slow playing, bro crowd which has become all too pervasive at public courses. 

[DE-ILLINI]

18 hours ago, SoCalTitleist said:

Have these influencers actually influenced anything ?

Last time I went to the golf course I saw a bag with Takoma irons and a LAB putter.  Given every YouTuber and their brother seems to play this combination now, there is a good chance they were influenced some YouTube's video.

[Ferguson]

2 hours ago, IndyArcher said:

So, basically like posting on a forum except they draw enough attention to make money at it. Now I’m getting a bit jealous of them!

 

No, not at all like that.

 

Most people on forums maintain a higher level of integrity and can multitask - work, earn and post.   

 

As far as influenceers, eventually their self-proclaimed popularity will run out and they will be left schlucking affordable windows at the ACE Hardware.  

[Par4Nate]

1 minute ago, Ferguson said:

 

No, not at all like that.

 

Most people on forums maintain a higher level of integrity and can multitask - work, earn and post.   

 

As far as influenceers, eventually their self-proclaimed popularity will run out and they will be left schlucking affordable windows at the ACE Hardware.  

 

Nah, they’ll be the guy/gal that taps you on the shoulder when your shopping at Home Depot and asks if they could just have a minute of your time to discuss the benefits of solar…

 

[596]

Yikes. No way I could read all of this thread.  I have no idea what anyone is talking about.  YT, influencer, podcast, followers?  I'll be on the golf course, probably following some idiot filming all his shots to make money. 😛 

[jimecherry]

5 hours ago, BlackDiamondPar5 said:

Yes. Unfortunately it's attracted the attention of the backward hat wearing, drunken, slow playing, bro crowd which has become all too pervasive at public courses. 

you play the wrong courses never seen those bros at my local public courses.

[notsohard]

10 hours ago, BlackDiamondPar5 said:

Yes. Unfortunately it's attracted the attention of the backward hat wearing, drunken, slow playing, bro crowd which has become all too pervasive at public courses. 

Lucky me, I'm a snob at a private members club. 

[Ferguson]

15 hours ago, Par4Nate said:

 

Nah, they’ll be the guy/gal that taps you on the shoulder when your shopping at Home Depot and asks if they could just have a minute of your time to discuss the benefits of solar…

 

 

I always wondered where they found the solar people.   

[iBanesto]

Great "influencers" here... 😅 😴

 

 

Edited March 15 by iBanesto

[bladehunter]

On 3/13/2025 at 11:56 AM, MattyO1984 said:

From the general tone of the comments on here, many WRX'ers have the same opinion as Rory. 

Count me as one of those. I can’t name any . Don’t want to. They don’t “ influence “ me 

[bladehunter]

On 3/13/2025 at 1:30 PM, TheDeanAbides said:

A thread full of middle aged men whining about people doing something they love and hopefully making a few quid from it. Urgh. 

Stop whining about my whining 🤣!!

[caniac6]

I don’t watch any influencers or YouTube Tubers. I have enough voices in my head.

[jonsnow]

On 3/13/2025 at 1:30 PM, TheDeanAbides said:

A thread full of middle aged men whining about people doing something they love and hopefully making a few quid from it. Urgh. 

I'm 67. Most people don't live to be 134...

[Hawkeye77]

 

I'm watching Dan Grieve give a lesson to a lady pro right now!  Pretty interesting stuff.  All he does is influence me to try to have a better short game.  Not sure how watching occasional course vlogs to see some different courses "influences" me but I don't waste time with club reviews or, heaven forbid, "normal" golf instruction on YouTube, so if the goal is to influence me, it's failing.  

 

Unsubscribed from Shiels, lol, but my new favorite picture of him is one captured by a journalist just a week or so ago of Rick checking out the new backyard and showing off his new wheels.

 

 

Edited March 15 by Hawkeye77

[jonsnow]

On 3/14/2025 at 7:00 AM, Ferguson said:

I refuse to be influenced. 

 

 

 

I would expect nothing else.

[Jc0]

Not sure why this is surprising. He already plays golf 5-8 hours a day. Why would he spend his free time watching golf influencers. 

 

It's like coming home from work the deciding you're going to watch videos about work.

[Hawkeye77]

1 hour ago, Jc0 said:

Not sure why this is surprising. He already plays golf 5-8 hours a day. Why would he spend his free time watching golf influencers. 

 

It's like coming home from work the deciding you're going to watch videos about work.

And we all know bad golf can be highly infectious! 

[Par4Nate]

5 hours ago, iBanesto said:

Great "influencers" here... 😅 😴

 

 

 

That LIV phony tough guy folded arm pose they use in all their pics is comically stupid looking.

[third-times-a-charm]

Rory went from righteous protector of all that is good in golf to a whiny crybaby curmudgeon in record time. He was a fan favorite - and now he's stealing fan's phones.

 

Real U-turn for the guy; or maybe this is the real Rory, finally?

Edited March 15 by third-times-a-charm

[Ghost of Snead]

12 minutes ago, third-times-a-charm said:

Rory went from righteous protector of all that is good in golf to a whiny crybaby curmudgeon in record time. He was a fan favorite - and now he's stealing fan's phones.

 

Real U-turn for the guy; or maybe this is the real Rory, finally?

 

Probably not a good choice to take the phone with the Ryder Cup in the New York area this year. Should have ignored the comment despite how lame it was ...

[J_Tizzle]

I get Rory's stance on it.  Just doesn't appeal to him, if he wants to "influence" golf he does it with his game on the course and his legacy.

 

I also understand why people might not like certain YT people, but there is really someone out there for everyone if you enjoy watching golf.  I like seeing full rounds of good golfers, like every shot, and you don't get that on TV, but you do on the Bryan Bros.  

[betarhoalphadelta]

5 hours ago, Jc0 said:

Not sure why this is surprising. He already plays golf 5-8 hours a day. Why would he spend his free time watching golf influencers. 

 

It's like coming home from work the deciding you're going to watch videos about work.

 

Exactly. One of the draws of YT golf content is that these guys aren't pros... They're like us. For example I enjoy RGC when they do their "breaking" series, and have four amateur golfers playing some tour track. You can reflect on how great the pros are by how "regular Joes" get the crap kicked out of them by the setup. 

 

Well, by that definition, those "regular Joes" are therefore NOT like Rory. I can see why it wouldn't appeal to a pro. 

 

Per your analogy, it's not like me coming home from work to watch videos about work... It would be like coming home from work only to watch people who don't have my background, my education, and my 25 years of experience in my industry try to "play at" my work. 

 

[bladehunter]

3 hours ago, third-times-a-charm said:

Rory went from righteous protector of all that is good in golf to a whiny crybaby curmudgeon in record time. He was a fan favorite - and now he's stealing fan's phones.

 

Real U-turn for the guy; or maybe this is the real Rory, finally?

Disagree. I just learned about the incident from your post. Looked into it. And I applaud him. It’s like taking a child’s toy to get his attention. And  it seemed to work. No ?     When did society start applauding rudeness ?  This kid knows better he’s a current college player.  He knows what being in the ring feels like. .   I think Rory is finally grown up.  

Edited March 15 by bladehunter