Randy Bedard, owner of both Coyotes Sports Simulation on Main Street and the Osoyoos Coyotes hockey team, spoke at a recent Rotary meeting about his store, which features multiple virtual reality and simulated games. (Michele Weisz)

Vanessa Broadbent

Osoyoos Times

You don’t have to leave Osoyoos to golf perfect conditions year round, ride a roller coaster, escape a haunted house or even fight some zombies – the only catch is it’s all simulated.

Coyotes Sports Simulation includes multiple virtual realty games and owner Randy Bedard attended Thursday’s Rotary meeting to talk about the business.

“The concept was thought about for a couple of years now, the idea of bringing something new and unique to Osoyoos that’s more entertainment value,” Bedard told Rotarians.

The business opened in the beginning of spring this year on Main Street and features 33 different golf courses, including many on the PGA tour, as well as driving ranges, mini golf, golf games including darts and poker, and even smashing windows out of buildings with golf balls.

“Whenever you hit a golf ball, the distance, the speed, exactly where it’s hit on the club, it’s all tracked and measured, so it’s very high tech,” Bedard said.

“It’s ideal for people to stay on top of their game when it’s unavailable or too chilly to do outside or the golf courses are closed.”

Randy Bedard, owner of both Coyotes Sports Simulation on Main Street and the Osoyoos Coyotes hockey team, spoke at a recent Rotary meeting about his store, which features multiple virtual reality and simulated games. (Michele Weisz)

But it’s not just the lack of snow or rain that helps patrons perfect their game year-round.

Bedard finds the privacy makes it less intimidating when technique isn’t quite where it should be.

“You can be as slow or as bad as you want. Nobody’s watching you so you don’t feel self conscious in any way.”

Along with golf, the business offers hockey, soccer, baseball and several laser shooting games.

When Bedard opened shop, he was told by partner company HD Sports to expect 95 per cent of patrons to golf. But he’s been surprised to see only between 60 and 70 per cent golfing and the remaining 30 trying out the other games.

The Oculus virtual reality games, which allow users to ride a roller coaster, escape a haunted house or even battle zombies, have been popular with a younger generation that isn’t so interested in golfing.

“I get a little frustrated with it because I’m not a gamer but kids are the best at it,” Bedard said. “An eight-year-old kid will sit there and go through all kinds of levels and know what they’re doing.”

So how does it work? The shop is open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and simulators are rented by the hour for $40, for up to four people. Monthly memberships including 10 hours of gaming are also available for $199.

Using the Oculus virtual reality gear costs $25 for one hour or $15 for 30 minutes.

Without the time spent walking across a golf course from hole to hole, or searching for a last ball, Bedard said game time can be shorter.

For example, he said it took a group of four golfers three hours and 15 minutes to complete 18 holes at California’s Pebble Beach course.

And there’s no obligation to spend the entire time booked on one game.

As for what’s next, Bedard said he’s thinking about purchasing additional games. But with the tech industry always expanding, it’s hard to plan exactly what the future will look like.

“The technology is unreal; it blows me away.”