In 2026, VcG launches the ‘German Swing’: Three new Pro Golf Tour tournaments in Germany supporting young talents 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 in the German Golf Association (VcG) supports three new professional tournaments on the Pro Golf Tour in Germany. With the ‘VcG Bodensee Open’, ‘VcG Cologne Open’, and ‘VcG Neuhof Open’, a dedicated \”German Swing\” is created, where international young talents will compete in June 2026 across three renowned tournament courses. Each event offers a €40,000 prize fund.
Three Tournaments, Three Federal States, Each with €40,000 Prize Money
\”With our new commitment to the Pro Golf Tour, we aim to specifically promote German talents. Our goal is to provide as many young professionals as possible with international tournament experience and to pave their way to higher competitive 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 9–11 at Golf Club Owingen-Überlingen (VcG Bodensee Open), June 16–18 at the Golf and Country Club Cologne (VcG Cologne Open), and June 23–25 at Golf Club Neuhof near Frankfurt am Main (VcG Neuhof Open).
The participating clubs are enthusiastic about the premiere. Jean-Claude Parent, President of 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 seeking entry to international professional sports – thus linking our tradition with the future of golf.\” The Golf Club Neuhof also underlines the event’s importance for promoting young players.
These clubs boast an impressive tournament history. Golf and Country Club Cologne hosted legends such as Gary Player, Nick Faldo, and Seve Ballesteros during the German Open. Golf Club 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 groups.
The Pro Golf Tour as a Launchpad for Professionals
The Pro Golf Tour itself is recognized as an official stepping stone for aspiring golfers: The top five in the Order of Merit gain full playing rights on the HotelPlanner Tour, while the best players are exempted from the first stage of Qualifying School, a crucial step towards eligibility for the DP World Tour. A prominent example of success is Martin Kaymer, who won five tournaments on the Pro Golf Tour in 2006 and qualified for the