As land for golf becomes scarce and precious, as golf courses are repurposed as mixed-use communities, our game endeavors to find a new landscape in which to fit. Forgotten, under-used urban sites find themselves suddenly desirable, as cities redevelop factories and warehouses into recreational spaces. Enter OnCore, one of many boutique golf-ball companies (think CutGolf, Snell, Vice) to enter the marketplace over the last fifteen years.

OnCore is much more than golf balls, and has larger goals focused well in its lens. In September, the Buffalo-based company announced plans to build a massive, urban facility adjacent to the revitalized downtown of the Queen City. With a hotel, arena targets for golf, and other recreational offerings, OnCore is betting that America’s love affair with golf will continue into the next few generations. The brains behind the project, Bret and Keith Blakely of OnCore, answered some hard-hitting questions on how this dreamscape can possibly become reality in the USA’s favorite, snowy city.

Will this facility be able to handle Buffalo weather?

KB: Absolutely. The engineering of the frame is designed to divert and deflect winds off Lake Erie, the game board will be engineered to handle snow loads, and a variety of snow removal options will be integrated into the final design. The hitting bays are covered and will be heated both from above and below, providing exceptional comfort to customers year round. Many of the attractions and activities are fully-enclosed and unaffected by the weather and another advantage will be the 225 covered parking spots situated below the game board.

What makes this different from Topgolf?

KB: A number of things are unique to our approach. There will be complete ball-tracking technology in each hitting bay allowing golfers of all skill levels to not only enjoy the entertainment aspect of the facility but can use the information and data that will be available to improve their skills. We are using a proprietary game board construction and layout that will allow for a number of different competitive games including both skill and luck elements. Our games and ball-tracking do not require the use of special golf balls like Topgolf so customers will enjoy the ability to use the best balls in golf – those offered by OnCore Golf. A number of other elements – social media integrations, novel food and beverage services and offerings, different spatial configuration inside the clubhouse that provides enhanced entertainment and socialization opportunities, other forms of athletic experiences, and expanded meeting, event, banquet, and hotel space – are all distinctive factors.

Aside from golf, what other sports activities are planned?

KB: We are currently planning to offer some “active sports” activities including indoor water surfing, skateboarding, and simulated snowboarding. We also expect to offer simulated skills challenges in baseball, soccer, basketball, archery, and many others.

Why choose Buffalo?

KB: As the home of OnCore Golf, we felt strongly that this “first-of-its-kind” facility ought to be introduced in Buffalo. Buffalo deserves something that the world points to as the best of the best and there just aren’t other facilities in existence that will offer everything OnCore Buffalo will.

How is OnCore planning to use this to benefit the community in ways other than just the entertainment aspect. What sort of access will local junior and high school programs have to the OnCore Golf Buffalo facility?

KB: We have already committed to providing the First Tee of WNY with free space for their operations and to allocate time in the facilities for them to conduct their important programs. We will be reaching out to both athletic and educational programs to encourage and assist them in utilizing our facility for a wide range of initiatives. We are in talks with others about different ways we can use OnCore Buffalo to make a positive impact and assure that this is a huge reason for our bringing this project into existence.

Tell us about the environmental impact of this facility on Kelly Island and the Buffalo River.

KB:  We have already completed environmental studies and will be conducting remediation of issues created by previous industrial use of the site prior to breaking ground. Local government officials have indicated strong support for improving the infrastructure improvements for both vehicles and for pedestrians looking to access Kelly Island from downtown. We have also met with Buffalo River Keepers to ensure that our development efforts support and complement their work to improve responsible use of the waterway.

What changes will need to be made to the roadways in the immediate area (known as the Old First Ward) to accommodate the increased amount of traffic generated by the facility?

KB: There currently are over 1 million visitors to RiverWorks, which is also located on Kelly Island so the existing infrastructure is adequate to support the estimated 350,000 visitors to OnCore Buffalo. However, as indicated already, there have been a number of encouraging regarding the improvements that could be made to the roadway and creating a waterfront greenway for pedestrian access.

Discuss how the facility will benefit different age groups. Activities that kids love, don’t necessarily translate to seniors and middle-agers, and vice-versa.

KB: It is our plan to offer a complete spectrum of fun activities for all ages and to ensure that families can enjoy time at OnCore Buffalo without having to split up. The use of augmented reality glasses and simple gaming hardware to allow kids to launch golf balls towards the targets in a “virtual” mode, instead of having to actually swing a golf club, is just one example of that approach. There are a few others that are going to be incorporated into the facility that are so unique, we are not ready to disclose them!

Why will people stay at this hotel, when they could be in the heart of downtown, or near the airport?

KB: The OnCore Buffalo facility will be located within a mile of every major attraction in downtown Buffalo including Canalside, HarborCenter, Seneca Buffalo Casino, Buffalo Rowing Club, RiverWorks, the Cobblestone District, Sahlen’s Field, and Keybank Center. The question is why anyone would want to be anywhere else!