In 2026, VcG launches the German Swing: three new Pro Golf Tour tournaments in Germany with €40,000 prize money each.
2026 will be a special year for professional golf in Germany: For the first time, the Association of Club-Free Golfers in the German Golf Association (VcG) is supporting three new professional tournaments on the Pro Golf Tour in Germany. The ‘VcG Bodensee Open’, ‘VcG Köln Open’ and ‘VcG Neuhof Open’ form a dedicated ‘German Swing’, where international emerging talents will compete on three prestigious courses in June 2026. Each event is endowed with 40,000 euros.
Three Tournaments, Three Federal States, Each with €40,000 Prize Money
‘With our new commitment to the Pro Golf Tour, we specifically want to support German talents. Our goal is to give as many young professionals as possible international tournament experience and pave their way to higher levels and major tours,’ explains Marco Paeke, managing director of VcG. The tournaments will 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 involved clubs are enthusiastic 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 top-quality host. Similarly, Achim Lehnstaedt, club manager of Golf- und Land-Club Köln, states, ‘We create a platform for young talents seeking to enter international professional sports — thus connecting our tradition with the future of golf.’ Golf-Club Neuhof also underlines the importance of the event for nurturing young players.
The clubs have a considerable tournament history. Golf- und Land-Club Köln hosted legends such as 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 hosted multiple German championships for youth and age categories.
The Pro Golf Tour as a Springboard for Professionals
The Pro Golf Tour itself is recognized as an official stepping stone for aspiring golfers: The top 5 of the Order of Merit earn full playing rights on the HotelPlanner Tour, while the best players are exempt from the first stage of Qualifying School, a vital step to earning a card for the DP World Tour. A prominent example of the tour’s success is Martin Kaymer, who won five tournaments on the Pro Golf Tour in 2006 and progressed through this stage and the Challenge Tour (now HotelPlanner Tour) to the European Tour (now DP World Tour).
VcG’s investment goes beyond the Pro Golf Tour: The association has long supported premier tournaments such as the ‘German Challenge powered by VcG’ on the HotelPlanner Tour and the ‘Amundi German Masters powered