Bryson DeChambeau of the United States reacts after he putts on the 18th green during the final round of the British Open golf championship at the Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland, Sunday, July 20, 2025. (AP Photo/STR)
STR/AP
Imagine running a public golf course and out of the blue receiving a phone call that one of the world’s biggest names in the sport, two-time U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, wants to attempt to break the course record — and video it for millions of YouTube views.
A half-dozen courses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area have received that call and months later continue to rake in extra business thanks to the attention.
“It is free advertising we could have never afforded to buy,’’ said Bert Walker, head professional at Prairie Lakes Golf Course in Grand Prairie.
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“I knew Bryson had a big following on YouTube,” said Walker, “but I had no idea how many. Our video alone has 5.3 million views. A lot of people that watch the video want to come out and see how well they can play the course that Bryson played. We’ve even had people from Europe play here for just that reason.’’
The power of DeChambeau’s influence on his YouTube videos is real. The total number of views for his seven record-setting attempts, including a try at one private club (Hackberry Creek in Irving), is 30.3 million.
Born and raised in California, the 31-year-old resident of Grapevine migrated to North Texas to attend SMU, where he majored in physics and won the NCAA individual golf championship in 2015. He became the third player to win the U.S. Amateur, the NCAA individual title and the U.S. Open, the others being Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. The Open wins came in 2020 and 2024, the crowning achievement among his nine PGA Tour titles.
In 2023, DeChambeau joined LIV and with that tour’s reduced schedule, there was more time to spend in front of a video camera.
DeChambeau’s idea of reinventing his public image took root in 2020. Nicknamed “The Scientist’’ for his technical approach to golf, DeChambeau studied and eventually decided to embrace YouTube. In an Internet world where success is measured by views and followers, The Scientist has been nothing short of a sensation with 2.68 million subscribers.
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With the future of LIV uncertain, there has been speculation that his YouTube side hustle could be a career backup.
Taking shots at course records is only one of many themes for DeChambeau’s videos. In others, he and a celebrity partner try to break 50 from the front tees playing a two-man scramble. His partners have run the gamut from NFL quarterbacks (Tony Romo, Tom Brady, Matthew Stafford) to colorful golfers (John Daly, Phil Mickelson) to President Donald Trump.
“Bryson has done a great job rebranding himself,’’ said Waterchase Golf Club general manager Jason Heitschmidt. “At one time he had a sort of a pretentious air and seemed quirky. But the videos show a different side that people can identify with.’’
It was at Waterchase on May 10, 2025, that DeChambeau achieved his only outright course record in seven area attempts so far. He tied the record at three courses.
“We got the call from out of the blue at the last minute and accepting turned out to be a really good decision on our part,’’ Heitschmidt said. “We blocked out some time for him to play the front nine. They ran into some traffic on the second nine, but nobody had any apprehension letting Bryson go through. He and his crew were very gracious, and Bryson stayed around and signed autographs after he finished.’’
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DeChambeau’s score of 10-under 62 broke the competition-setup record by two strokes, ending with a chip-in for eagle.
One of the two unofficial scores of 62 at Waterchase belonged to Scottie Scheffler in his high school days at Highland Park.
“We do have one conspiracy theorist that isn’t sure about the spot where Bryson’s drive ended on No. 8,’’ Heitschmidt said of the severe dogleg. “He wants to see him come back and duplicate it.’’
Golfers have long speculated on the score a top professional would shoot on their home courses.
Inside the Riverside Golf Club clubhouse the scorecard from DeChambeau’s course record-equaling 64 is on display along with an autographed flag. It is a popular backdrop for selfies.
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“It was awesome to watch,’’ said Riverside general manager Warren Costanzo. “Considering he was playing the course for the first time basically blind, it was really impressive.’’
Costanzo cannot quantify the number of extra rounds generated from the video, but he is certain it has been a drawing card.
The visit took place last May. “Bryson’s people were looking at two courses and were going to go with whichever responded first,’’ Costanzo said.
The only course change for the day was double-cutting the Riverside greens, increasing the speed in the 13-14 range on the Stimpmeter, more in line with what DeChambeau would see in a professional tournament.
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DeChambeau’s visit to Coyote Ridge Golf Club in Carrollton in August 2024 took place one day before Jim Sanders became the club’s general manager. But Sanders has seen the positive results.
“Particularly the younger golfers ask questions about Bryson’s visit, and it is the younger generation we’re trying to reach to grow the game,’’ Sanders said. “The experience gave us name recognition outside the D-FW area. We’ve definitely received more interest and additional play.’’
What stood out to Southern Oaks director of golf Corey Clarkin about DeChambeau’s December round happened after Bryson finished off a 64 to tie the course record. All the production team had left.
“Bryson asked me if it was OK to practice,’’ Clarkin said. “He stayed for two and a half hours interacting with people on the driving range and the putting green, just super generous with his time. Nobody was filming that.’’
Clarkin, before setting up the course, informed DeChambeau Southern Oaks could play as long as 7,300 yards, but figured a shorter setup would be better for a run at the course record.
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“Bryson told me, ‘no, the longer the better,’’’ Clarkin said. “I’d never heard that from anybody else.’’
The one shot that stands out in Clarkin’s mind is DeChambeau’s mammoth drive on the 521-yard, par-5 No. 1.
“Where Bryson hit it would take two shots from just about anybody else.’’
DeChambeau’s 63 from the tips is now recognized as Southern Oaks’ official course-record round.
Although his score of 65 fell two shots shy of the Tour 18-Dallas record, the course’s theme of modeling famous holes in the U.S. appealed to DeChambeau.
His play left an impression on Doug Wortman, director of golf at the Flower Mound course.
“The way Bryson attacks the golf course is just different,’’ Wortman said. “The lines he takes most golfers could not even imagine. It is something to see.’’
Riverside’s Costanzo echoed the thoughts of many participating area course pros and general managers.
“Bryson is great for golf. He brings people to the game. We hope he does a revenge tour and comes back.’’
DeChambeau’s local course-record attempts
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