In 2026, the VcG launches the ‘German Swing’: three new Pro Golf Tour tournaments in Germany, each offering €40,000 to support young talents.
2026 will be a special year for German professional golf: For the first time, the Association of Club-Free Golfers in the German Golf Federation (VcG) is supporting three new professional tournaments on the Pro Golf Tour in Germany. The ‘VcG Bodensee Open’, the ‘VcG Cologne Open’, and the ‘VcG Neuhof Open’ form a dedicated ‘German Swing’, where international young talents will compete in June 2026 on three renowned courses. Each event is endowed with €40,000.
Three Tournaments Across Three Federal States, Each with €40,000 Prize Money
‘With our new commitment on the Pro Golf Tour, we aim to specifically promote German talents. Our goal is to give as many young professionals as possible international tournament experience and pave their way into higher leagues and major tours,’ explains Marco Paeke, Managing Director of the VcG. The tournaments take place in Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Hesse: from June 9–11 at Golfclub Owingen-Überlingen (VcG Bodensee Open), from June 16–18 at Golf- und Land-Club Köln (VcG Cologne Open), and from June 23–25 at Golf-Club Neuhof near Frankfurt am Main (VcG Neuhof Open).
The participating clubs 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 presents the facility as a host of the highest quality. Similarly, Achim Lehnstaedt, Club Manager of the Golf- und Land-Club Köln, states, ‘We create a platform for young talents seeking a path into international professional golf—thus connecting our tradition with the future of golf.’ The Golf-Club Neuhof also underlines the significance of the event for nurturing young players.
The clubs boast a remarkable tournament history. Legends such as Gary Player, Nick Faldo, and Seve Ballesteros played at the German Open at Golf- und Land-Club Köln. 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 youth and senior categories.
The Pro Golf Tour as a Launchpad for Professionals
The Pro Golf Tour itself is considered an official springboard for aspiring golfers: The top 5 of the Order of Merit receive full playing rights on the HotelPlanner Tour, while the best players are exempted from the first stage of the Qualifying School—a crucial step towards eligibility for the DP World Tour. A prominent example of success on the tour is Martin Kaymer, who won five tournaments on the Pro Golf Tour in 2006 and qualified for the European Tour (now called the DP World Tour) via this pathway and the Challenge Tour (today HotelPlanner Tour).
The VcG does not only invest in the Pro Golf Tour: for years, it has supported high-class tournaments such as the ‘German Challenge powered by