Buffalo-based OnCore Golf Technology is opening what it calls a “first-of-its-kind sports entertainment complex” including a fully integrated hotel in near Buffalo, N.Y.
Doug Swift, founder of RiverWorks and Joe Carubba, former CEO of Carubba Collision, are among several strategic and financial partners.
The OnCore Buffalo facility will bring golf and other sports experiences to Kelly Island, along the Buffalo River near downtown Buffalo, N.Y., attracting year-round participation from a wide range of demographics. The estimated project cost is $30 million and is expected to result in between 400 to 500 jobs when it opens in 2021.
The facility in Buffalo will feature a three-tiered golf driving range with radar and camera systems used in each hitting bay to deliver incredible gaming and learning possibilities for golfers and non-golfers.
Alternative experiences involving augmented and mixed reality geared towards the non-golfers or younger customer base are also planned, making OnCore Buffalo a destination for anyone and everyone. Approximately 120 to 160 hotel rooms along with dedicated banquet, event and meeting space will be situated above the three levels of hitting bays.
For golf enthusiasts, each hitting bay will offer full shot analysis including both club and ball data (swing speed, ball speed, smash factor, distance, spin rate, spin angle, launch angle, apex, and much more) and will offer customers the option of recording their swing and receiving instructional advice in real time.
All of the information will be saved and available to the customer for retrieval and review on mobile devices and on a cloud-based website. Instantaneous social media posting and sharing along with in-venue broadcasts are designed to further enhance the user experience. Plans currently include bringing the headquarters of the First Tee of WNY into this facility at no cost to further encourage and expand participation of junior golfers.
The OnCore Buffalo facility will feature an elevated game board with targets at distances from 50 yards to 170 yards and a back wall with targets representing distances of up to 250 yards. Numerous games — some purely for entertainment and others for competition — will be available and shown on high-resolution monitors in each bay. There will be extensive food and beverage options throughout the facility including full service at the hitting bays.
The facility offers a significantly smaller physical footprint than competing golf entertainment offerings, according to the company. OnCore Buffalo says it is also considering downtown sites in Knoxville, Tenn., Columbus, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Las Vegas, Phoenix, New York City, Denver, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere.