In 2026, VcG starts the ‘German Swing’: three new Pro Golf Tour tournaments in Germany with €40,000 prize money each to support young talents.
2026 will be a special year for German professional golf: for the first time, the Association of Clubless Golfers in the German Golf Association (VcG) supports three new professional tournaments on the Pro Golf Tour in Germany. With the ‘VcG Bodensee Open’, the ‘VcG Köln Open’, and the ‘VcG Neuhof Open’, a dedicated ‘German Swing’ emerges, where international young talents will compete in June 2026 on three renowned courses. Each event features a prize fund of €40,000.
Three tournaments, three federal states, each with €40,000 prize money
‘With our new commitment to the Pro Golf Tour, we aim to specifically promote German talents. Our goal is to provide as many young professionals as possible with international tournament experience and facilitate their path to higher tours and major leagues,’ explains Marco Paeke, Managing Director of VcG. The tournaments take place in Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Hesse: from June 9 to 11 at Golfclub Owingen-Überlingen (VcG Bodensee Open), from June 16 to 18 at Golf- und Land-Club Köln (VcG Köln Open), and from June 23 to 25 at Golf-Club Neuhof near Frankfurt am Main (VcG Neuhof Open).
The participating clubs express excitement about the premiere. Jean-Claude Parent, President of Golfclub Owingen-Überlingen, emphasizes that hosting a German Swing tournament crowns the club’s sporting ambitions and presents the facility as a host of the highest quality. Similarly, Achim Lehnstaedt, Club Manager of Golf- und Land-Club Köln, states, ‘We create a platform for young talents seeking to enter international professional golf – thus linking our tradition with the sport’s future.’ Golf-Club Neuhof also underscores the event’s importance for supporting junior players.
The clubs boast significant tournament histories. At Golf- und Land-Club Köln, legends such as Gary Player, Nick Faldo, and Seve Ballesteros competed in the German Open. Golfclub Owingen-Überlingen hosted the INGUN Cup and was part of the European Seniors Tour, while Golf-Club Neuhof has repeatedly hosted German championships in youth and age categories.
The Pro Golf Tour as a springboard for professionals
The Pro Golf Tour is recognized as an official stepping stone for aspiring golfers: the top five on the Order of Merit gain full playing rights on the HotelPlanner Tour, and the best players are exempt from the first stage of the Qualifying School, a key step toward eligibility on the DP World Tour. A prominent example of the tour’s success is Martin Kaymer, who won five Pro Golf Tour tournaments in 2006 and qualified for the <