If you’ve ever dreamed of playing some of the best golf courses in the world or taking a thrill ride on some of the biggest and baddest rollercoasters on the planet, a new business in Osoyoos can help make those dreams come true.

Coyotes Sports Simulation is the brainchild of Randy Bedard, the longtime owner and president of the Osoyoos Coyotes hockey club.

Photo Credit: Contributed CoyotesCoyotes Sports Simulation is the brainchild of longtime Osoyoos Coyotes owner Randy Bedard. The business, which allows patrons to simulate playing world-class golf courses and enjoy Oculus Virtual Realty games, is now open on Main Street in Osoyoos.

Besides allowing visitors the ability to choose from playing 33 of the world’s greatest golf courses, they can also play virtual reality (VR) games, miniature golf, fire pucks on goaltenders and target, soccer balls at top-notch goaltenders, test their baseball pitching skills and engage in various lazer shooting games.

Osoyoos Sports Simulation is located at 8519 Main St. in Osoyoos in the former home of Yore Movie Store.

Bedard said he hadn’t intended on opening the sports simulation business in 2018, but “just couldn’t turn down” the opportunity to lease the space in the old movie theatre in the heart of Main Street in downtown Osoyoos.

“I needed high ceilings and a very visible location and I knew this place was perfect,” he said. “I had a vision for this place and I can honestly say the end product ended up better than my vision.

Photo Credit: Coyotes Sports Simulation

“My original plan was to open this place in a year or two, but when this space opened up, I just moved everything up. It’s a wonderful location and I’ve got a wonderful landlord, so I’m pretty excited.”

The business opened in February and has been adding different games and attractions ever since, said Bedard.

While there are many attractions, Bedard acknowledges the two golf simulators that allows patrons to play 33 of the world’s best courses using modern technology is attracting the most attention.

“They can play Pebble Beach, St. Andrew’s in Scotland, PGA National, Banff Springs, Sawgrass Hill, Torrey Pines and many others,” he said. “They use real clubs and real golf balls … the technology has advanced to the state where you really do feel like you’re there.

“The computers accurately measure ball speed, distance, spin … it’s really quite remarkable.”

Photo Credit: Coyotes Sports SimulationCustomers can simulate playing one of 33 of the world's best golf courses at Coyotes Sports Simulation in downtown Osoyoos.

Players can rent the simulators by themselves or in groups of four, which allows them to share the costs, he said.

There are different surfaces to simulate hitting a golf ball from the green, the rough or sand.

Club rentals are available or patrons can bring their own, he said.

They can also practice their putting and chipping or enjoy the “incredible miniature golf course” inside the facility, he said.

Photo Credit: ContributedRandy Bedard, the new owner of Coyotes Sports Simulation and longtime owner of the Osoyoos Coyotes hockey club, is excited about his new business venture.

There are other simulators that allow patrons to shoot pucks at goaltenders and targets, soccer balls at goaltenders, test their baseball pitching skills or play electronic darts, he said.

There are more than two dozen Oculus VR games available and four lazer shooting games that test marksmanship and skill.

Bedard believes the VR games are going to very popular as they use state-of-the-art technology to take players into a different realm.

One of the games allow patrons to feel like they’re riding in the front seat on one of the world’s largest rollercoasters.

Many of these VR devices are extremely expensive to purchase, so he expects to attract a lot of young gamers to his store, he said.

“You can rent the Oculus VR games for 60 minutes or 30 minutes and play as many as you want in that time,” he said. “It’s affordable fun.”

While the business has been relatively quiet since opening two months ago, Bedard is confident the sports simulators are going to be very popular once the tourists start flocking to Osoyoos in May to kick off the annual tourist season.

“I think it has great potential,” he said. “Like any new business, I knew it was going to take some time to get off the ground, but I think things are really going to pick up once the tourists start coming to town.

“The whole idea was to offer something different if you want to get out of the heat or spend two or three hours with your friends and family having a lot of fun.”

Anyone wanting to test the simulators can do so free of charge during their first visit, said Bedard.

There will also be special rates for group gatherings and birthday parties, he said. There’s a meeting room in the back which can be used for small, private functions, he said.

Bedard said he doesn’t believe there’s another sports simulation business anywhere in the Okanagan, so he’s confident he can attract customers from across the region.

He’s used his marketing skills to turn the Coyotes into one of most successful franchises in the KIJHL and he hopes to use those skills to promote his new business, said Bedard.

For more information, you can visit the website at www.coyotessportssimulation.com or call Bedard at 250-495-5878.