A $30.7 million golf entertainment complex approved more than two years ago by Tennessee officials has yet to break ground on a vacant property north of downtown, despite original plans to open by early 2026.
No building permits have been issued for Knoxville's ShotClub Social, a Topgolf-style venue planned along Interstate 275 off Fifth Avenue, Bryan Berry, the city's deputy director of zoning and development services, told Knox News. The project's developer, New York-based OnCore Golf, has not finalized an agreement for the 11-year property tax incentive the Knoxville City Council approved for the development in 2024.
OnCore Golf had a similar facility planned for Buffalo, New York, which has since been relocated, scaled back and delayed.
ShotClub Social promised site cleanup and hundreds of jobs
ShotClub
Social was designed to include golf bays, mini golf, duckpin bowling and an arcade, along with food and drinks. Rebekah Jane Justice, the city's chief of urban design and development, supported the project in 2024.
The land cannot be used for housing, she said, so a commercial use is a win-win for the city.
The project was expected to create 200-250 jobs, including entry-level positions, in the city's 6th District. Former 6th District Councilwoman Gwen McKenzie said in 2024 the project also could introduce more children to golf.
"It's not like this is prime property that a lot of people are beating the doors down to want to have an opportunity to do something with because those options are so limited," McKenzie said of the land's history.
The site at 822 Richards St. previously housed PSC Metals, a scrap metal facility, and was a landfill before that. The project would include cleanup of contaminated land, according to a 2024 city news release.
Knox News has contacted OnCore Golf and its local partner, McCamy Construction, about the project's status multiple times over the past two months. Neither has responded.
ShotClub Social in New York also delayed
Plans for a ShotClub Social in Buffalo were shifted in 2023 to another location in Western New York. As of early 2026, construction had not started on the facility.
OnCore makes perimeter-weighted golf balls that are endorsed by social media ambassadors, and the company offers custom fittings to help players find the right ball. The planned Knoxville and New York facilities would be its first ShotClub Social locations.
OnCore, backed by Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen as a shareholder and ambassador, underwent a major leadership shift in April when it hired Mike Jordan as the new CEO.
How much was ShotClub Social's tax incentive worth?
Annual property taxes for the Knoxville site were expected to rise to $264,124 once ShotClub Social was built. Under the 11-year tax incentive, however, OnCore Golf would have paid just $7,612 annually, based on the property’s pre-development tax value.
The approved tax incentive had not closed as of Nov. 6, 2026, according to Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation, meaning OnCore has not received the tax break. The payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, agreement was expected to start during the construction period in 2024 and end in 2035.
Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon said in 2024 the project was among the developments city officials hoped to attract after federal funding was used to improve and modernize the 60-acre I-275 business corridor.
Sophia Tiedge is the growth and transformation reporter for Knox News. Email: sophia.tiedge@knoxnews.com
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: What happened to the $30.7 million Topgolf-style golf complex planned for Tennessee?
