In 2026, the VcG launches the ‘German Swing’: Three new Pro Golf Tour events in Germany each with €40,000 prize money.
2026 will be a special year for German professional golf: For the first time, the Association of Club-Free Golfers in the German Golf Association e.V. (VcG) will support three new professional tournaments on the Pro Golf Tour in Germany. The ‘VcG Bodensee Open,’ the ‘VcG Köln Open,’ and the ‘VcG Neuhof Open’ will form a dedicated ‘German Swing,’ with international young talents competing on three renowned tournament courses in June 2026. Each event offers a prize fund of €40,000.
Three Tournaments, Three 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 enable as many young professionals as possible to gain international tournament experience and pave their way to higher leagues and the big tours,’ explains Marco Paeke, Managing Director of the VcG. The tournaments will take place in Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Hesse: June 9-11 at Golfclub Owingen-Überlingen (VcG Bodensee Open), June 16-18 at Golf- und Land-Club Köln (VcG Köln Open), and June 23-25 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 host of the highest quality. Similarly, Achim Lehnstaedt, Club Manager at Golf- und Land-Club Köln, states: ‘We create a platform for young talents who seek their way into international professional golf – thereby connecting our tradition with the future of the sport.’ Golf-Club Neuhof also underlines the importance of the event for promoting young players.
The clubs boast an impressive tournament history. Golf- und Land-Club Köln has seen legends like Gary Player, Nick Faldo, and Seve Ballesteros compete in 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 several German championships in youth and age categories.
The Pro Golf Tour as a Springboard for Professionals
The Pro Golf Tour itself is an official stepping stone for aspiring golfers: The top five on the Order of Merit receive full playing rights on the HotelPlanner Tour, while the best players are exempt from the first stage of Qualifying School, an essential step to gain 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