In 2026, VcG launches the German Swing: three new Pro Golf Tour events in Germany with €40,000 prize money each.
2026 will be a special year for German professional golf: For the first time, the Association of Golfers Without Club Membership in the German Golf Association (VcG) is supporting three new professional tournaments on the Pro Golf Tour in Germany. The German Swing will consist of the \”VcG Bodensee Open,\” \”VcG Köln Open,\” and \”VcG Neuhof Open,\” where international young talents will compete on three renowned tournament courses in June 2026. Each event offers a prize fund of €40,000.
Three Tournaments, Three 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 enable as many young professionals as possible to gain international tournament experience and pave their way to higher playing classes and major tours,\” explains Marco Paeke, managing director of VcG. The tournaments will be held in Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Hesse: from June 9 to 11 at the Golfclub Owingen-Überlingen (VcG Bodensee Open), from June 16 to 18 at the Golf and Country Club Cologne (VcG Köln Open), and from June 23 to 25 at the Golf Club Neuhof near Frankfurt am Main (VcG Neuhof Open).
The involved clubs are enthusiastic about the premiere. Jean-Claude Parent, president of Golfclub Owingen-Überlingen, emphasizes that hosting a German Swing tournament crowns the sporting ambitions of the club and presents the facility as a host of the highest quality. Similarly, Achim Lehnstaedt, club manager of the Golf and Country Club Cologne, states, \”We create a platform for young talents seeking a path into international professional golf – thus connecting our tradition with the future of golf.\” The Golf Club Neuhof also highlights the importance of the event for promoting young players.
The clubs have an impressive tournament history. Legends like Gary Player, Nick Faldo, and Seve Ballesteros played the German Open at the Golf and Country Club Cologne. Golfclub Owingen-Überlingen hosted the INGUN Cup and was part of the European Seniors Tour, while Golf Club Neuhof has hosted multiple German championships in youth and age categories.
The Pro Golf Tour as a Springboard for Pros
The Pro Golf Tour itself is recognized as an official springboard for aspiring golfers: the top five of the Order of Merit receive full playing rights on the HotelPlanner Tour, and the best players are exempted from the first stage of Qualifying School, an important step toward eligibility for 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 European Tour (now DP World Tour) via this tour and the Challenge Tour (now HotelPlanner Tour).
VcG invests not only in the Pro Golf Tour: for years, the association has supported high-class tournaments such as the \”German Challenge powered by VcG\” on the HotelPlanner Tour and the \”Amundi German Masters powered