In 2026, the 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 German professional golf: For the first time, the Association of Clubless Golfers within the German Golf Association (VcG) will support three new professional tournaments on the Pro Golf Tour in Germany. The ‘VcG Bodensee Open’, ‘VcG Köln Open’, and ‘VcG Neuhof Open’ create a dedicated ‘German Swing’ where international young talents will compete across three prestigious courses in June 2026. Each event offers €40,000 in prize money.
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 to higher tiers and major tours,’ explains Marco Paeke, Managing Director of the 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 participating 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 showcases the course’s top quality as a host. Similarly, Achim Lehnstaedt, Club Manager of Golf- und Land-Club Köln, states: ‘We provide a platform for young talents seeking the path to international professional sports – combining our tradition with the future of golf.’ Golf-Club Neuhof also highlights the event’s significance in supporting emerging players.
The clubs possess a notable tournament history. Legends like Gary Player, Nick Faldo, and Seve Ballesteros have played at Golf- und Land-Club Köln during the German Open. 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 junior and senior 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 in the Order of Merit earn full playing rights on the HotelPlanner Tour, while the best players are exempted from the first stage of Qualifying School – a significant step toward eligibility for the DP World Tour. A prominent success story from the tour is Martin Kaymer, who won five Pro Golf Tour events in 2006 and advanced via this tour and the Challenge Tour (now HotelPlanner Tour) to qualify for the