In 2026, the 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 Club-Free Golfers within the German Golf Association (VcG) is supporting three new professional tournaments on the Pro Golf Tour in Germany. With the ‘VcG Bodensee Open’, the ‘VcG Cologne Open’, and the ‘VcG Neuhof Open’, a dedicated ‘German Swing’ will be created, where international young talents will compete at three renowned courses in June 2026. Each event offers €40,000 in prize money.
Three Tournaments, Three States, €40,000 Prize Money Each
\”With our new commitment on 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 to higher playing levels and the 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 Golf Club Owingen-Überlingen (VcG Bodensee Open), from June 16 to 18 at Golf and Country Club Cologne (VcG Cologne Open), and from June 23 to 25 at Golf Club Neuhof near Frankfurt am Main (VcG Neuhof Open).
The involved clubs express great enthusiasm about the premiere. Jean-Claude Parent, President of Golf Club 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 and Country Club Cologne, states: \”We create a platform for young talents who seek a path into international professional golf – thus connecting our tradition with the future of golf.\” The Golf Club Neuhof also highlights the event’s importance for nurturing young players.
The clubs boast a remarkable tournament history. Legends like Gary Player, Nick Faldo, and Seve Ballesteros competed at the German Open at Golf and Country Club Cologne. Golf Club Owingen-Überlingen hosted the INGUN Cup and was part of the European Seniors 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 itself is considered an official stepping stone for aspiring golfers: the top five in 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, an important step toward eligibility 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 qualified for the European Tour (now DP World Tour) via this stage and the Challenge Tour (now HotelPlanner Tour).
VcG invests not only in the Pro Golf Tour: For years, the association has supported high-level tournaments such as the \”German Challenge powered by VcG\” on the HotelPlanner Tour and the \”Amundi