a day ago
YouTube stars complete hole-in-one challenge after 57-hour livestream on Calgary golf hole
A days-long stunt by viral YouTube pranksters the Nelk Boys had shut down part of a Calgary golf course for more than 50 hours, as the group pursued a single goal: to sink a hole-in-one.
Around 9 p.m. on Wednesday, the group posted to social media that Nelk Boys co-founder Kyle Forgeard got a hole-in-one after 57 hours on livestream.
The challenge, livestreamed to tens of thousands of viewers on had members of the Nelk team repeatedly attempting a 155-yard (142-metre) shot at Heritage Pointe Golf Course. As of Wednesday afternoon, the stream had a steady viewership of more than 30,000.
Despite a heatwave pushing temperatures to 30 C this week, Forgeard said they weren't going anywhere until the goal was completed.
'We're not leaving until we get a hole in one,' Forgeard told a Postmedia reporter between swings on Wednesday, cracking open a can of his Happy Dad hard seltzer.
Their main YouTube channel has nearly 8.5 million subscribers with a combined total of about 1.78 billion views. Forgeard also hosts the Full Send Podcast, which boasts more than 2 million YouTube subscribers and a guest list that includes Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Mike Tyson and Shaquille O'Neal
The challenge has 18 members of the Nelk Boys crew camped out near the tee box, sleeping in tents and an RV parked on site.
'Usually I get . . . penthouses and the hotels, but it's the opposite this time,' Forgeard said. 'I woke up at 7 a.m. today and I felt like I was in a Russian sauna — and I've actually been in a Russian sauna.'
The hole-in-one challenge took place on a private filming set at Heritage Pointe Golf Club and was not open to the public.
The team arrived in Calgary last Friday amid a hailstorm, days before a heat warning came into effect in the city. But Forgeard, now based in Miami, isn't complaining.
'It's nice weather,' he said. 'Canada in the summer? Can't beat it.'
Forgeard said the challenge came together after connecting with Heritage Pointe Golf Club owner Barry Ehlert.
'I was like, if there's one guy that's gonna hook us up and let us do this at his course . . . (it's Barry),' he said. 'He was instantly down.'
David Robinson, vice-president of operations at Heritage Pointe, said the stunt hasn't disrupted regular operations at the course and has been a positive experience for staff.
'This is definitely the first time we've seen something like this,' Robinson said. 'The guys have been great to work with and awesome to our staff.
'It has been a fun experience,' he added.
Forgeard, who was born and raised in Mississauga, Ont., fondly recalled his Canadian upbringing, playing road hockey 'every day' after school.
'I feel like there's literally no better place to grow up,' he said. 'I'm really proud to be from Canada.'
He also praised the staff at Heritage Pointe: 'The staff here has been so great — they're bringing us food, anything we need.'
Asked how long they prepared to stay, Forgeard paused.
'That's a good question,' he said. 'I don't know — but we can't leave until we make a hole in one. There's no way.'
The team expressed interest in visiting the Calgary Stampede, which officially kicks off on Friday.
'I loved it (last year),' Forgeard said. 'If we make the hole in one on Friday, obviously we're rolling into the Stampede.'
