A days-long stunt by viral YouTube pranksters the Nelk Boys has shut down part of a Calgary golf course for more than 54 hours, as the group pursues a single goal: to sink a hole-in-one. Read More
’We can’t leave until we make a hole in one. There’s no way’
‘We can’t leave until we make a hole in one. There’s no way’
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A days-long stunt by viral YouTube pranksters the Nelk Boys has shut down part of a Calgary golf course for more than 54 hours, as the group pursues a single goal: to sink a hole-in-one.
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The challenge, livestreamed to tens of thousands of viewers on Kick.com, has 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.
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Despite a heatwave pushing temperatures to 30 C this week, Nelk Boys co-founder Kyle Forgeard says they’re not going anywhere.
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“We’re not leaving until we get a hole in one,” Forgeard told a Postmedia reporter between swings, cracking open a can of his Happy Dad hard seltzer.
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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
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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.
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“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.”
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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.
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“It’s nice weather,” he said. “Canada in the summer? Can’t beat it.”
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Forgeard said the challenge came together after connecting with Heritage Pointe Golf Club owner Barry Ehlert.
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“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.”
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‘A fun experience,’ says golf course VP of operations
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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.
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“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.