Kent golfer Steven Tiley has taken to selling shares in himself to cover the costs of travelling around the world playing the game.

Tiley struck upon the idea of selling shares to fund his golfing career last year and has once again repeated the idea after tremendous interest from local businesses.

The 30 year old from Canterbury has seen success off the back of selling shares and believes it is a good return for companies too:

“Last year and this year I’ve been selling shares in myself and have not long ago sold out. I sell forty shares at £500 each a share. I do different tiers and for £500 you get your name on my website, right through to £5,000 worth which gets you ten shares and for that you get a logo on my sleeve, a logo on my website and I help organise a golf day for you or play with some clients.”

“They then get 10% of my earnings for the year, so in these months when I haven’t got much going on with the Challenge Tour, I still have an income and that gives me the chance to play tournaments throughout the year.”

“That pays for flights and accommodation and enables me to play golf and concentrate on doing well.”

“My main aim for the next twelve months is to get onto the main Tour, get into the top five of the Challenge Tour rankings, get a win here or there and get a good year behind me.”

“Last year was interrupted with the birth of my daughter and that was an unbelievable experience, but it did mean I missed probably two of the biggest tournaments throughout the year.”

“This year I’m aiming to play a full season and do my shareholders justice!”

Tiley has seen a certain amount of success playing at the top level too and is hoping that the next few years will see him once again competing at the higher echelons of the sport:

“I’ve played in three Opens now, two as a pro and one as an amateur. In 2010 I was tied third after 20 holes behind Rory McIlroy and shot a 66 in the first round when Rory shot a 63.”

“I made the cut there even though I had a disappointing back nine on the second day.”

“I’ve played some high profile events, but want to get out and play some more now. Watching the Masters on TV has made me realise I want to be playing in these kind of events.”

“I’ve played two tournaments on the Challenge Tour at the start of the year and played pretty well. I was tied for 25th in India and tied for 11th in Kenya, so it’s been a good start.”

“I’m tied thirteenth in the rankings and the top fifteen get their card for next year, so I’m in with a good chance. We’ve had a break from the Challenge Tour for the past two months so I’ve been trying to keep busy and I was in the final of the Sunningdale foursomes with a friend of mine and won a TP tour event a few weeks ago.”

Tiley is attached to the Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club and told KSN how it is with the support of locals and businesses that he is being helped to play his best golf just as he feels he is coming into his prime:

“I would say the prime for most golfers is when they are 30-35, some guys it is a bit later nearer forty. That is in the back of my mind and I’ve gained a lot of experience in the last five years.”

“I’m looking forward to this year and my sponsors have been really good to me – A.L.E Business Machines Ltd, Hercules Wine Warehouse, Jaytee Biosciences Ltd, Steve & Sue Agolini and Steven Collins who is a Royal Cinque Ports member.”

“My dad has really helped me a lot over the years and I wouldn’t have been able to do what I’ve done without the support of my family.”

“Royal Cinque Ports is a great course to play and I play there most days if I can. If anything, it’s probably the best course I’ve ever played and I am extremely grateful for everything they’ve done for me over the years.”

Tiley is just one of a number of local pros earning their living from golf with the likes of Warren Bennett, Francis McGuirk and Benn Barham all competing at differing levels in the game.

All have seen success and golf in Kent is stronger than ever and Tiley believes the support of funding from throughout the game has seen more youngsters wanting to get to their local course to have a go:

“Gary Bason is doing loads for golf development in Kent and a lot of pros are giving something back to the younger generation.”

“With the likes of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy at the top of the game, golf is just going to get stronger and stronger.”

“There are a lot of good young players in the county and hopefully that will inspire a lot of others to go on and become the next generation.”

To find out more about Steven, visit his website – www.steventiley.com – to get into golf visit www.kentgolfpartnership.org.uk and to see what Gary Bason can do for your game, visit www.gbgolfcoaching.co.uk