WO2005020126A1

WO2005020126A1 - Golf scoring, ranking, and odds making system

Info

Publication number: WO2005020126A1
Application number: PCT/US2004/027100
Authority: WO
Inventors: James A. Mallamo
Original assignee: Mallamo James A
Priority date: 2003-08-20
Filing date: 2004-08-20
Publication date: 2005-03-03

Abstract

A golf scoring method, wherein at least one participant plays at a first set of geographic locations (1) and at least one other participant plays at a second set of geographic locations (5, 9). Each user site at each geographic locations including a personal computer (3, 7, 11) connected through network connections (4, 8, 12) with document viewer (2, 6, 10), the method comprising the steps of: determining at least one normalizing factor for said participants relative to each other; and using said normalizing factor to determine a player ranking for said participant and said other participant relative to each other.

Description

GOLF SCORING, RANKING, AND ODDS MAKING SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [001] The invention relates to a system for tracking, comparing, and ranking golf scores, and for generating and verifying wagering odds on golf scores.

BACKGROUND [002] Historically, golf competitions have been conducted between competitors on one course in one specific geographic location. Each competition is localized and is conducted at one period of time to put all participants on equal footing. It has previously been extremely difficult, if not impossible, to effectively conduct a single golf competition in geographically diverse areas due to variations in playing conditions and the inability to quickly communicate and compare competition results. [003] Moreover, the disparity in course conditions due to weather and other factors has prevented competitions held at multiple locations because the participants cannot be scored on an equal footing. For example, it has also been difficult to comparing the scores of different types of players, such as men and women, who rarely play golf in the same competition due to differences in the style of play and the course conditions used for their respective competitions. [004] The advent of computers and computer networks has enhanced the speed with which participants, who may be playing on different holes on the same golf course, may quickly communicate their scores to a central location, may compute their handicap or ranking, and may rate themselves against other players. Examples of such conventional systems are shown, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,321,128, 5,949,679; 5,283,733; and 4,910,677. However, these prior art system all have the distinct disadvantage that they do not allow for the same competition to be held on multiple courses or in multiple locations and do not allow for an equal comparison for competitive purposes, such as for setting odds on various combinations of outcomes. [005] Accordingly, there is a growing need to provide a system that allows different types participants playing under differing conditions to compete in a single competition on a national and even international basis or for ranking players regardless of location, sex, or other factors, while playing in geographically diverse locations and differing periods of times, and to allow odds to beset on various possible outcomes from these events. Moreover, a system is needed for effectively compiling player scores from each location, calculating the results and determining rankings and wagering odds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [006] Embodiments of the invention include a golf scoring system, wherein at least one participant plays at a first geographic location or set of geographic locations and at least one other participant plays at a second geographic location or set of geographic locations. The system is capable of determining at least one normalizing factor for the participants relative to each other; and using the normalizing factor to determine a player ranking for the participant and the other participant relative to each other. The invention may also include generating player odds for one participant relative to the other. [007] The normalizing factor may be based, for example, upon one or more selected from the group consisting of: historical, current, or forecasted weather conditions at the geographic locations; the layout of the geographic locations; the complexity of the geographic locations, restrictions on the manner of play by the participant or the other participant at the respective the geographic location; the playing difficulty of the geographic locations from scratch golfers; the playing difficulty of the geographic locations for non-scratch golfers; at least one of said participant's scoring ability relative to the scoring ability of an expert amateur on a course of standard difficulty; USGA course and slope ratings; strength of the field; total course yardage; pin placements; the sex of at least one of the participants; total wins by at least one of the participants; number of major championship wins by at least one of the participants; individual performance in the major championships by at least one of the participants; official earnings by at least one of the participants; scoring average by at least one of the participants; putting average by at least one of the participants; top 10 finishes by at least one of the participants; number of birdies by at least one of the participants; number of eagles by at least one of the participants; number of hole in ones by at least one of the participants; average driving distance by at least one of the participants; driving accuracy by at least one of the participants; and sand saves by at least one of the participants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [008] For a better understanding of the invention, together with other objects, features and advantages, reference should be made to the following detailed description which should be read in conjunction with the following figures wherein like numerals represent like parts. [009] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the invention used over the Internet. [0010] Figures 2 and 3 are examples of possible competition matchups using the system of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0011] For simplicity and ease of explanation, the invention will be described herein in connection with various exemplary embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will recognize, however, that the features and advantages of the invention may be implemented in a variety of configurations. It is to be understood, therefore, that the embodiments described herein are presented by way of illustration, not of limitation. [0012] A system is needed for effectively comparing scores, ranking players, and even setting odds for one or more golf competitions that may be held in geographically diverse locations under differing conditions and among differing types of players. A system is further needed for compiling scoring information and processing the results. [0013] One means of transmitting information over geographically diverse locations in use today (although not the only means) is the Internet. The Internet is a vast "network of networks" connecting a large number of computer networks and sub-networks to each other through several regional backbone systems around the world. One portion of the Internet, the World Wide Web ("Web"), is growing at a rapid pace, as more and more businesses go online. [0014] The Web is the most popular segment of the Internet today because it allows users to interact with each other and access content through a graphical user interface, or "GUI." The most commonly used GUI's are Web browsers, which are software applications that allow users to access and view electronic documents in a browser window. [0015] Web documents are created using Hypertext Markup Language ("HTML"), which allows authors to add special format tags to plain text documents to control the appearance of the text in the Web browser. HTML tags also allow for the insertion of additional components into the Web document, such as image files, audio files, and applets. Applets are small pieces of programming code that are run on the user's computer when downloaded. Applets allow for such effects as scrolling text and animation, and for use in the secure transfer of information across the Internet. [0016] To enhance security, the scoring server may use Secure Socket Layer ("SSL") technology, which is widely known by those skilled in the art and is integrated into most commercially acceptable web browsers. [0017] The following is a description of a collection and computation system of that may be used with the invention. In one embodiment of the invention (although not limited thereto), individual scores from each competition may be submitted over some medium, such as the Internet (or cellular phone networks, conventional telephone networks, satellite networks, etc.), such as through the use of a series of HTML foπns, to a scoring server, which stores this information in a data source. From this information, scores and odds may be calculated for each phase of each of the golf competitions. These scores and odds maybe weighted to account for changes in each location due to weather, the type of player, course difficulty, etc. [0018] Fig. 1 is a schematic demonstrating possible components used in one embodiment of the invention. In this example, there are three User Sites, which may be located, for example, at one of the golf courses used, at the home of one of the participants, or at the home or office of one or more of the organizers of the competition. [0019] An electronic document of some sort, such as a Web page created using HTML, is loaded into Document Viewer 1, 6, or 10 by a user. The document viewer may be any software application capable of viewing electronic documents and loading additional electronic documents from within the original document, such as through the use of a hypertext link (although not limited thereto). [0020] For example, the document viewer could include a Web browser, such as Navigator from Netscape Communications or Microsoft's Internet Explorer. The electronic document may be loaded automatically when the document viewer is first started, or may be opened into the viewer by the user from a file stored locally or at a remote URL. For example, the user may load the document by typing the document's URL into the Web browser's command line. [0021] Document Viewer 2, 6, or 10 may be accessed by the user through any of a number of systems, such as through the use of a terminal connected to a mainframe system, from a personal computer, from a computer connected to a local computer network, from a cellular phone, from a personal digital assistant (PDA), etc. [0022] Document Viewer 2, 6, or 10 is connected to the network along with other document viewers and computers, such as Personal Computer 3, 7, or 11 through Network

Connection 4, 8, or 12. This connection is typically made through local telephone lines using an analog, ISDN, or DSL modem, though it can be over a direct network connection, such as an

Ethernet network, cellular network, etc. The administrator of the network connection (e.g. an

Internet Service Provider or "ISP") maintains a network that routes any requests from the document viewer to the appropriate location. This may be accomplished in a conventional manner, such as through the use of a modem pool connected to a local server and gateway (not shown). The network connects the document viewer to Information Exchange System 13 through any of a number of well-known connection schemes, such as through the use of leased lines. [0023] Information Exchange System 13 may, in one embodiment, comprise Web Server 14, Data Source Interface 15, Data Source 16, and Email Server 17, the operation and interrelation of which will be described in more detail below. [0024] Web Server 14 is typically a software application running on a remote computer that is capable of forwarding or processing HTTP requests from each document viewer. For example, Web Server 14 may include any one of a number of well-known server applications, such as the NSCA Web server, the Apache Web server, etc. Web Server 14 passes a document request from a document viewer to Data Source 16 using Data Source Interface 15. [0025] Information transmitted over the Internet uses the TCP/IP protocol. With this protocol, each location on the Internet, typically a specific computer or Web server, has its own unique IP (Internet Protocol) address. This address identifies where that computer or server is located on the network. [0026] After a Web document is loaded into the document viewer, the document viewer waits until the hypertext link is activated, generating a signal to Web Server 14 in Information Exchange System 13. This is preferably in the form of an HTTP request sent over the Internet using TCP/IP and SSL. The HTTP request may include a request for scoring information, submitted scoring information, or both. It will be appreciated that the details of HTTP operation in conjunction with TCP/IP are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and will, therefore, not be elaborated on here. [0027] When the HTTP request is received by Web Server 14, Web Server 14 accesses Data Source 16 using Data Source Interface 15 to retrieve any requested information, or to submit information, based upon signal from the document viewer. In one embodiment of the invention, Web Server 14 would receive the HTTP request from Document Viewer 1, parsing the request to determine the desired information. In this embodiment, the requested information is accessed in Data Source 16 by using a common gateway interface ("CGI") program, well known to those of skill in the art, as Data Interface 15. This program acts as an interface between the server and the data source by executing a set of instructions based upon the information received by the server in the HTTP request and passed by the server to the CGI program. [0028] The CGI program can take a number of forms which are well known in the art, such as PERL scripting, C + + modules, or other common programming languages. The interaction of Web servers and CGI programs and the sending of information therebetween is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. [0029] The CGI program may extract the document location information, e.g. the URL, from the information passed to it by Web Server 14 and retrieve a scoring record or records from the data source. Conversely, it may also submit scoring information as well. This may be accomplished in a number of ways known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, a database access module, can be used in connection with any number of database packages, such as to interface with the majority of commercial relational database applications. Examples of such databases include Oracle, Sybase, Microsoft Access, and the like. [0030] Records may be stored and retrieved by passing SQL statements to the database and loading the results into the CGI program. The CGI program may then compare the records stored in Data Source 16 with any new results received from the document viewer. Once all of the required scoring information has been received from each location, the program would then compute the final scores and rankings for each participant based upon the specific factors used in the scoring system. [0031] The system of the invention may be used with any golf related activity, such as, for example, professional or amateur golf tournaments, individual rounds or holes of golf, or various skills competitions. One such skills competition is a three-part golf competition involving a driving phase, a pitching, or "chipping" phase, and a putting phase (although the invention is clearly not limited thereto). [0032] In one example, the invention may calculate for adverse weather conditions, such as wet playing areas and prevailing winds, and may normalize scores to simulate ideal playing conditions worldwide, regardless of the actual weather. Differing weather conditions may be accounted for in the system of the invention, for example, by multiplying each participant's score by a weighting percentage based upon pre-selected weather criteria. [0033] For example, the following criteria could be used and percentages could be used to normalize the scores on the driving aspect of a golf competition on one course at one location, relative to the conditions at a second course at another location: Condition: Weighting: Wet + 8% Dry - 8% Wind / +12% Against Wind / With - 12% Wind / Across + 6%

[0034] Normalizing the scores provides the significant advantage that the scores from geographically diverse areas may be equated, so^' that a single competition may be had on a national and even worldwide level, rankings may be accurately compiled, and wagering odds may be generated. This is a distinct advantage over previous scoring systems, which have required the competition to be limited to a specific course, location, and participants. [0035] The use of current and "future" (e.g., forecasted) weather conditions (or even, in some cases, historical conditions) may be advantageous. For example, opening odds for a competition may be posted, such as to a Web site via Information Exchange System 13, and made accessible to sportsbook managers (e.g., for Las Vegas, offshore, and cruise ship casinos; state or country based sports lotteries; etc. ). Oddsmakers may move the money line daily. Current and forecasted weather conditions may be an important consideration in such situations, due to their immediate impact on the odds. [0036] Of course, results may be calculated and odds generated using a variety of other factors as well, including terrain, climate, course and/or hole difficulty, and player ability or characteristics. Many golf courses and holes, and players themselves are rated by numerous organizations using several methods, typically based upon relative difficulty. For example, a player's scoring ability may be rated to the scoring ability of an expert amateur playing on a course of standard difficulty. A course may be rated based upon the playing difficulty of a course for scratch golfers under normal conditions based on yardage and other obstacles that affect their scoring ability. Or, a course may be rated based upon how much more difficult the course plays for individuals who are not scratch golfers. Course and player ratings such as these are often calculated, for example, by using systems promulgated by the United States Golf Association. [0037] In another example, the system of the invention maybe used to conduct and set odds on a virtual "Battle of the Sexes" between male and female golfers, such as PGA Tour Players vs. LPGA Tour Players. In such an embodiment, a weekly (or other time frame) competition may be conducted, having multiple matchup possibilities; i.e. team competitions, and which may be expandable to multiple tours; i.e. Nationwide Tour, Champions Tour. [0038] Odds may be set on such a golf match or competition to indicate oddsmakers' opinions as to the probable outcome of the matches. For example, a point spread may be used as a margin to handicap a favorite player or team. For betting purposes, a favored player or team may be predicted to win by a certain number of points. This number of points may be the point spread. The favorite may be indicated by a minus sign (e.g., "-3"), for example, and the underdog by a plus sign (e.g., "+3"). In one example, if a bettor wagers on the favorite, the bettor will win if the favorite wins and their margin of victory is greater than the point spread. Similarly, if the bettor wagers on the underdog, he/she will win if the underdog wins, ties, or if the favored team wins but fails to exceed the point spread. [0039] In another example, a money line may also be used and may take the place of a point spread. Money line betting is typically wagering on a contest based on a given price rather than a point spread. The team wagered on has to win the game outright, for example, regardless of the score. A minus sign next to a number (e.g., "-130") may be used to indicate the favorite and the amount a bettor must wager to win $100. Similarly, a plus sign next to a number (e.g., "+120") may be used to indicate the underdog and the amount a bettor may win for every $100 bet. Using this example, therefore, a bettor would wager $130 to win $100 on the favorite, while for the underdog the bettor would wager $100 to win $120. [0040] In one embodiment, marquee players, the top names in golf, the players everyone loves on watch on television may be used. Matchups may be similar to the popularity of the names often seen in golf events such as the Ryder Cup and the Skins Game. The most interesting matchups to watch may be used; the ones that would generate the highest television ratings. [0041] The system of the invention may be used or programmed to consider and evaluate numerous variables relative to the players, teams, and participating golf courses in any and all golf competitions. For example, golf course rating and the relative degree of difficulty of participating golf courses may be a primary consideration. A number of golf course rating services, such as that provided by the United States Golf Association, offer a ratings service to golf courses in the United States. The system of the invention may consider these ratings and relative degree of difficulty when predicting a player's score in a competition. A golf course's degree of difficulty is important since one golf course may be more difficult to play than another, significantly influencing a player's total score. [0042] Individual and team competitions may be significantly affected whenever one player or team is participating on a golf course designated as the current site of a major championship, such as the Masters, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and the British Open. Players playing on the major championship site usually face more difficult conditions; e.g., greater total yardage, tougher pin placements, longer rough, faster greens, etc. These 'tougher' playing conditions are significant when predicting a player's total score and may be considered in the system of the invention. [0043] Examples of possible competition matchups using the system of the invention are illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. [0044] Scores and odds may be stored in Data Source 16, and may be provided to the participants through a variety of means well known to those of skill in the art, such as email notification tlirough Email Server 17, or a series of HTML Web pages, which may or may not be password protected. [0045] Other embodiments of the invention may include other forms of securely encoding information into the document returned by Information Exchange System 13. For example, cryptography and stenographic systems may be employed. Such systems are well known to those of skill in the art. [0046] If the document is improperly taken and used by another this can be detected through a comparison of the information encoded in the file with that stored in Data Source 16. Web Server 14 or Document Viewer 1, 6, or 10 may decrypt the encoded information and compares it with the information stored in Data Source 16. This may be accomplished through the use of a CGI program, as discussed above. [0047] Participants in the skills challenge, as well as the organizers, can also communicate with each other using Email Server 17, sending messages to each other using electronic mail. Information Exchange System 13 could also include a real-time chat room in Web Server 14, to allow real time communication during and after each competition. As commonly known in the art, a chat room comprises software that allows users to correspond dynamically in real-time using text messages that they type into their keyboard. Often software for sending the text messages is incorporated into the document viewer, and is well known in the art. Messages can even be translated into different languages by using translation software, such as that provided by the AltaVista search engine or Systran. [0048] In a further embodiment, the invention may be used to rank players using the above-discussed factors (and others) and to answer questions such as, "Who are the best golfers in the world?" For example, men and women golfers may be combined in one overall ranking to, e.g., calculate the top performers on the PGA Tour and the LPGA Tour. In another example, players from the PGA Tour may be combined with players from the Seniors Tour. [0049] The system of the invention may be used to analyze such factors as course and slope ratings (such as those established by the USGA), strength of the field, total yardage, pin placements and weather conditions to determine at least one normalizing factor for each of the golf courses relative to each other. The system may then compile results from each of the participants, apply the normalizing factor to each of the results, and determine a final score or player rating for each of the participants. [0050] Bonus points may also be awarded for such aspects as total wins, number of major championship wins, individual performance in the major championships, official earnings, scoring average, putting average, top 10 finishes, number of birdies, number of eagles, number of hole in ones, average driving distance, driving accuracy and sand saves (or any other aspect of the game of golf that those of ordinary skill in the art may contrive). [0051] Although this invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. For example, the invention may be utilized on any computer network, such as intranets and other internetworked systems, and is not limited to the Internet or the World Wide Web. It will also be appreciated that many combinations of Web servers and CGI applications may used for accessing the data source, and the data source may be other than a relational database, such as an ACSII text file, or some other type of binary file. Also, if HTML code is used to contain the scoring information, this information may take a variety of forms other than the URL encoded key pairs described herein, such as hidden variable in the HTML code. The criteria used to weight the different portions of the competition may also include factors other than environmental condition, such as geographic features of the course, its overall determined level of difficulty, etc. [0052] In addition, while the invention has been described in terms of one type of competition, the system of the invention is equally applicable to a number of golf propositions, and is not particularly limited. For example, a Battle of the Sexes, which predicts total gross scores over 18, 36, 54 or 72 holes, has been described above. However, the system of the invention may also be applicable to a multitude of golf propositions on multiple tours, 18, 36, 54 or 72 holes, e.g., odds to win, number of strokes 'under' par, most birdies scored in a tournament, most eagles scored in a tournament, or most hole-in-ones. [0053] The embodiments that have been described herein, however, are but some of the several which utilize this invention and are set forth here by way of illustration but not of limitation. It is obvious that many other embodiments, which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, may be made without departing materially from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. In a golf scoring method, wherein at least one participant plays at a first set of geographic locations and at least one other participant plays at a second set of geographic locations, said method comprising the steps of: determining at least one normalizing factor for said participants relative to each other; and using said normalizing factor to determine a player ranking for said participant and said other participant relative to each other.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said participant is female and said other participant is male.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of storing said normalizing factor in a data source; compiling information on said participants, storing said information in said data source; and storing said player ranking for each of said participants in said data source.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first set of geographic locations and said second set of geographic locations are selected from the group consisting of the PGA Tour, the LPGA Tour, and the Senior Tour.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said normalizing factor is based upon one or more selected from the group consisting of: historical, current, or forecasted weather conditions at said geographic locations; the layout of said geographic locations; the complexity of said geographic locations, restrictions on the manner of play by said participant or said other participant at the respective said geographic location; the playing difficulty of said geographic locations from scratch golfers; the playing difficulty of said geographic locations for non-scratch golfers; at least one of said participant's scoring ability relative to the scoring ability of an expert amateur on a course of standard difficulty; USGA course and slope ratings; strength of the field; total course yardage; pin placements; the sex of at least one of said participants; total wins by at least one of said participants; number of major championship wins by at least one of said participants; individual performance in the major championships by at least one of said participants; official earnings by at least one of said participants; scoring average by at least one of said participants; putting average by at least one of said participants; top 10 finishes by at least one of said participants; number of birdies by at least one of said participants; number of eagles by at least one of said participants; number of hole in ones by at least one of said participants; average driving distance by at least one of said participants; driving accuracy by at least one of said participants; and sand saves by at least one of said participants.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said geographic location comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of a 9-hole golf course, an 18-hole golf course, a single hole, a driving range, a fairway, and a putting green.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said participants plays at least one 18-hole round of golf.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said participants plays a driving phase, a pitching phase, and a putting phase.

9. The method of claim 9, wherein said normalizing factor is applied to only one of said driving phase, said pitching phase, or said putting phase.

10. A golf scoring apparatus, wherein at least one participant plays at a first set of geographic locations and at least one other participant plays at a second set of geographic locations, said apparatus comprising: a user interface for electronically receiving information on each of said participants; and a data source capable of containing at least one normalizing factor for each of said participants relative to each other, capable of using said normalizing factor to determine a player ranking for said participant and said other participant relative to each other.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said participant is female and said other participant is male.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said first set of geographic locations and said second set of geographic locations are selected from the group consisting of the PGA Tour, the LPGA Tour, and the Senior Tour.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said normalizing factor is based upon one or more selected from the group consisting of: historical, current, or forecasted weather conditions at said geographic locations; the layout of said geographic locations; the complexity of said geographic locations, restrictions on the manner of play by said participant or said other participant at the respective said geographic location; the playing difficulty of said geographic locations from scratch golfers; the playing difficulty of said geographic locations for non-scratch golfers; at least one of said participant's scoring ability relative to the scoring ability of an expert amateur on a course of standard difficulty; USGA course and slope ratings; strength of the field; total course yardage; pin placements; the sex of at least one of said participants; total wins by at least one of said participants; number of major championship wins by at least one of said participants; individual performance in the major championships by at least one of said participants; official earnings by at least one of said participants; scoring average by at least one of said participants; putting average by at least one of said participants; top 10 finishes by at least one of said participants; number of birdies by at least one of said participants; number of eagles by at least one of said participants; number of hole in ones by at least one of said participants; average driving distance by at least one of said participants; driving accuracy by at least one of said participants; and sand saves by at least one of said participants.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said data source is further capable of using said normalizing factor to determine player odds for said participant and said other participant relative to each other.

15. In a golf scoring method, wherein at least one participant plays at a first geographic location and at least one other participant plays at a second geographic location, said method comprising the steps of: determining at least one normalizing factor for said participants relative to each other; and using said normalizing factor to determine player odds for said participant and said other participant relative to each other.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said participant is female and said other participant is male.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of storing said normalizing factor in a data source; compiling information on said participants, storing said information in said data source; and storing said player odds for each of said participants in said data source.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said first set of geographic locations and said second set of geographic locations are selected from the group consisting of the PGA Tour, the LPGA Tour, and the Senior Tour.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said normalizing factor is based upon one or more selected from the group consisting of: historical, current, or forecasted Weather conditions at said geographic locations; the layout of said geographic locations; the complexity of said geographic locations, restrictions on the manner of play by said participant or said other participant at the respective said geographic location; the playing difficulty of said geographic locations from scratch golfers; the playing difficulty of said geographic locations for non-scratch golfers; at least one of said participant's scoring ability relative to the scoring ability of an expert amateur on a course of standard difficulty; USGA course and slope ratings; strength of the field; total course yardage; pin placements; the sex of at least one of said participants; total wins by at least one of said participants; number of major championship wins by at least one of said participants; individual performance in the major championships by at least one of said participants; official earnings by at least one of said participants; scoring average by at least one of said participants; putting average by at least one of said participants; top 10 finishes by at least one of said participants; number of birdies by at least one of said participants; number of eagles by at least one of said participants; number of hole in ones by at least one of said participants; average driving distance by at least one of said participants; driving accuracy by at least one of said participants; and sand saves by at least one of said participants.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said player odds are accessible via one or more selected from the group consisting of a casino and a sports lottery.