Patent ID: 8480516

Claim:
A method of calculating and providing a reward based on usage of a greenhouse gas reducing golf ball, the method comprising steps of: (a) receiving pre-use data into a computer regarding a substantially new greenhouse gas reducing golf ball, the substantially new greenhouse gas reducing golf ball comprising a core; an intermediate layer substantially surrounding the core, the intermediate layer being substantially impermeable to water; a cover layer substantially surrounding the intermediate layer; a carbon dioxide absorbent selected from the group consisting of alkaline hydroxides, alkaline oxides, alkali hydroxides, alkali oxides, and mixtures thereof; the carbon dioxide absorbent being encapsulated within a plurality of microcapsules; the plurality of microcapsules being frangible, such that at least one microcapsule of the plurality of microcapsules breaks as a result of a force applied by a golf club face to the greenhouse gas reducing golf ball during a drive, thereby exposing the carbon dioxide absorbent therein to atmospheric carbon dioxide; the plurality of microcapsules being comprised of a material that is substantially impermeable to carbon dioxide; the plurality of microcapsules being dispersed within a polymer matrix, the polymer matrix constituting a structural component of the greenhouse gas reducing golf ball; (b) receiving post-use data into the computer regarding a used greenhouse gas reducing golf ball, the used greenhouse gas reducing golf ball corresponding to the substantially new greenhouse gas reducing golf ball after use; (b) calculating with a computer processor a degree of usage value of the used greenhouse gas reducing golf ball by comparing the pre-use data with the post-use data, the pre-use data and post-use data being descriptive of at least one physical property of the used greenhouse gas reducing golf ball; and (c) calculating with the computer processor a reward based on the degree of usage value; (d) providing the reward to a user.