In 2026, VcG starts the German Swing with three new Pro Golf Tour tournaments in Germany, each offering €40,000 in prize money.
2026 will be a special year for German professional golf as the Association of Club-Free Golfers in the German Golf Federation (VcG) supports three new professional tournaments on the Pro Golf Tour in Germany. The VcG Bodensee Open, VcG Köln Open, and VcG Neuhof Open will form the new German Swing, attracting international young talents in June 2026 to compete on three renowned courses. Each event offers €40,000 in prize money.
Three tournaments, three federal states, each with €40,000 prize money
\”With our new engagement on the Pro Golf Tour, we specifically aim to 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 levels and major tours,\” explains Marco Paeke, Managing Director of 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 clubs involved express great enthusiasm for the premiere. Jean-Claude Parent, President of Golfclub Owingen-Überlingen, emphasizes that hosting a German Swing tournament crowns the sporting ambitions of the club and showcases it as a host of highest quality. Similarly, Achim Lehnstaedt, Club Manager of Golf- und Land-Club Köln, states, \”We create a platform for young talents seeking a path into international professional sports and thus connect our tradition with the future of golf.\” Golf-Club Neuhof also underlines the event’s importance for promoting young players.
The clubs have a notable tournament history. Golf- und Land-Club Köln hosted legends like Gary Player, Nick Faldo, and Seve Ballesteros during the German Open. Golfclub Owingen-Überlingen was the venue of the INGUN Cup and part of the European Seniors Tour, while Golf-Club Neuhof has hosted multiple German championships in youth and senior categories.
The Pro Golf Tour as a springboard for professionals
The Pro Golf Tour is recognized as an official stepping stone for aspiring golfers: the top five on the Order of Merit receive full playing rights on the HotelPlanner Tour, and the best players are exempted from the first stage of the 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 it has supported high-class tournaments such as the German Challenge powered by VcG on the HotelPlanner Tour and the Amundi German Masters powered by VcG on the Ladies European Tour