In 2026, VcG launches the ‘German Swing’: three new Pro Golf Tour events in Germany, each with €40,000 prize money to support young talents.
2026 will be a remarkable year for German professional golf: For the first time, the Association of Non-Club Golfers (VcG) within the German Golf Association is sponsoring three new professional tournaments on the Pro Golf Tour in Germany. The ‘VcG Bodensee Open’, ‘VcG Cologne Open’, and ‘VcG Neuhof Open’ will form a dedicated ‘German Swing,’ where international young talents will compete on three prestigious courses in June 2026. Each event offers a prize fund of 40,000 euros.
Three Tournaments, Three States, Each with €40,000 Prize Money
‘With our new commitment to the Pro Golf Tour, we aim to specifically support German talents. Our goal is to provide as many young professionals as possible with international tournament experience and to pave their way into higher levels and major tours,’ explains Marco Paeke, CEO of VcG. The tournaments will take place in Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Hesse: from June 9–11 at Golfclub Owingen-Überlingen (VcG Bodensee Open), June 16–18 at Golf- und Land-Club Köln (VcG Cologne Open), and June 23–25 at Golf-Club Neuhof near Frankfurt am Main (VcG Neuhof Open).
The involved clubs express great enthusiasm for 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 venue as a top-quality host. Similarly, Achim Lehnstaedt, club manager of Golf- und Land-Club Köln, states, ‘We create a platform for young talents seeking a path into international professional golf – thus connecting our tradition with the future of the sport.’ Golf-Club Neuhof also highlights the event’s importance for nurturing young players.
These clubs have a notable tournament history. Legends like Gary Player, Nick Faldo, and Seve Ballesteros played the German Open at Golf- und Land-Club Köln. Golfclub Owingen-Überlingen hosted the INGUN Cup and was part of the European Senior Tour, while Golf-Club Neuhof has organized multiple German championships in youth and senior 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 receive full playing rights on the HotelPlanner Tour, and the best players are exempt from the first stage of Qualifying School, a key step toward eligibility for the DP World Tour. A prominent success story is Martin Kaymer, who won five Pro Golf Tour events in 2006 and progressed through this tour and the Challenge Tour (now HotelPlanner Tour) to qualify for the European Tour (now DP World Tour).
The VcG invests not only in the Pro Golf Tour: For years, the association has supported high-profile tournaments such as the ‘German Challenge powered by VcG’ on the HotelPlanner Tour and the ‘