In 2026, VcG starts the ‘German Swing’: three new Pro Golf Tour tournaments in Germany offering €40,000 prize money each.
2026 will be a special year for German professional golf: For the first time, the Association of Club-Free Golfers within the German Golf Association (VcG) supports three new professional tournaments on the Pro Golf Tour in Germany. The ‘VcG Bodensee Open’, the ‘VcG Köln Open’ and the ‘VcG Neuhof Open’ form a dedicated ‘German Swing’, where international young talents will compete on three prestigious tournament courses in June 2026. Each event is endowed with €40,000 prize money.
Three tournaments, three federal states, each with €40,000 prize money
‘With our new commitment to the Pro Golf Tour, we want to specifically promote German talents. Our goal is to provide as many young professionals as possible with international tournament experience and pave their way to higher playing classes and major tours,’ 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).
Participating clubs express 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 course as a top-quality host. Similarly, Achim Lehnstaedt, Club Manager of Golf- und Land-Club Köln, says, ‘We create a platform for young talents aiming for the international professional sport – combining our tradition with golf’s future.’ Golf-Club Neuhof also highlights the event’s significance for nurturing young players.
The clubs have considerable tournament histories. Golf- und Land-Club Köln hosted legends like Gary Player, Nick Faldo, and Seve Ballesteros at the German Open. Golfclub Owingen-Überlingen was the venue for the INGUN Cup and part of the European Seniors Tour, while Golf-Club Neuhof has frequently hosted German Championships in youth and age categories.
The Pro Golf Tour: a springboard for professionals
The Pro Golf Tour is recognized as an official stepping stone for aspiring golfers: The top-5 on the Order-of-Merit list gain full playing rights on the HotelPlanner Tour, and the best players are exempted from the first stage of qualifying school, a crucial step towards playing rights on the DP World Tour. A prominent example is Martin Kaymer, who won five tournaments on the Pro Golf Tour in 2006 and qualified for the European Tour (now DP World Tour) via this path and the Challenge Tour (now HotelPlanner Tour).
VcG not only invests in the Pro Golf Tour: For years, the association has supported top-level tournaments such as the ‘German Challenge powered by VcG’ on the HotelPlanner Tour and the ‘Amundi