As the new kid on the PGA Tour block, the Myrtle Beach Classic gained attention with a different approach through YouTube Golf.
A 16-person 18-hole shootout qualifying round was held between eight professional golfers and eight YouTubers. The winner earned a spot in the new PGA Tour tournament field.
It was a great idea to incorporate one of the fastest growing parts of gaming.
The video, titled “The Q at Myrtle Beach,” was filmed in early March, but the winner was unknown until PlayGolf Myrtle Beach posted it on Tuesday.
YouTubers who took part in the shootout were Grant Horvat, Peter Finch, Mika Morris, Luke Kwon, better known as Dan Rappaport of Barstool’s Foreplay Pod, and Fat Perez of Bob Does Sports They were Nick Stubb, George Bryan of Bryan Brothers Golf, and Cole Lantz of the TV show. Busta Jack.
of Video is now live Tuesday, April 23rd at 1pm ET.
Since its first release, it has been viewed more than 520,000 times.
Play Golf Myrtle Beach’s channel has just 11,000 followers. Most of his videos have less than 1,000 views.
But when they leveraged YouTubers, the channel gained huge numbers. Across his 10 videos they created on social media his media impressions amounted to millions.
Was it a perfect production? No, but it’s YouTube. In short, the product lived up to my expectations.
The 90-minute video could have been condensed to make it more appealing, but the view speaks for itself.
This allowed people to learn about YouTube Golf and why so many people enjoy it.
More involvement between YouTube Golf and the PGA Tour?
This is probably just the beginning of incorporating more of this element into the game.
YouTube Golf is part of the future. Perfect for golf and game growth. It’s a big deal that so much attention is being focused on the qualifying round. Play Golf Myrtle Beach took a risk, and it paid off.
All in all, it was a smart risk to take.
I give it an A- because some changes could have been made. The videography could have been better, the editing could have been cleaner.
Either way, this idea should change the way people think about how golf content can be consumed and how important YouTube Golf is to the survival of the game.
No, it’s not traditional, but they love the same game as traditionalists. It’s just a different way of doing things. Look at Bryson DeChambeau and how he elevated his brand by creating a channel.
He understands not only the value of YouTube for his personal brand, but also how it can benefit gaming. DeChambeau’s channel also includes some of his YouTube participants.
Coming out of the pandemic, golf exploded in popularity. Most of these are from people in the younger age group. These same demographics consume content on social media platforms such as YouTube, numbering in the tens of millions.
The PGA Tour should consider this campaign instead of killing it. Coaches need to find ways to incorporate YouTube Golf to attract more young viewers.
CBS once again experienced a drop in television ratings for the Masters. The way people consume media and sports is changing. It is the duty of the PGA Tour and the sport’s governing body to do what is best for the future of the game.
For fans who are still against YouTube Golf, buckle up because there’s nothing you can do about it.
YouTube Golf is not a passing fad. They produce quality golf content and deserve respect. Entertainment is part of golf and they provide it to the masses.
If golf is to continue to thrive, this element of the game must be included, so embrace them and check out their content.
Savannah Lee Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.If you want to know more about golf, please follow us. @_PlayingThrough On all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirls and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
