In 2026, the VcG launches the German Swing: three new Pro Golf Tour events 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. The VcG Bodensee Open, VcG Cologne Open and VcG Neuhof Open create a dedicated German Swing, where international young talents will compete on three renowned courses in June 2026, each event offering €40,000 in prize money.
Three Tournaments, Three States, Each with €40,000 Prize Money
\”With our new commitment on 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 to pave their way to higher levels and major tours,\” explains Marco Paeke, CEO of VcG. The tournaments take place in Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Hesse: from June 9-11 at Golfclub Owingen-Überlingen (VcG Bodensee Open), June 16-18 at 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 Golfclub 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 are creating a platform for young talents seeking the path to international professional golf – thus connecting our tradition with the future of golf.\” The Golf Club Neuhof also underlines the event’s importance for supporting emerging players.
These clubs boast a significant tournament history. Legends like Gary Player, Nick Faldo, and Seve Ballesteros played at the German Open at Golf and Country Club Cologne. 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 age group categories.
The Pro Golf Tour as a Stepping Stone for Professionals
The Pro Golf Tour serves as an official springboard for aspiring golfers: the top 5 on the Order of Merit receive full playing rights on the HotelPlanner Tour, and the best players are exempted from the first stage of Qualifying School, which is a key step towards qualification for the DP World Tour. A prominent example of the tour’s success is Martin Kaymer, who won five Pro Golf Tour events in 2006 and advanced through this stage and the Challenge Tour (now the HotelPlanner Tour) to the European Tour (now DP World Tour).
The VcG invests not only in the Pro Golf Tour: the association has supported high-level events like the German Challenge powered by VcG on the HotelPlanner Tour and the Amundi German Masters powered by VcG on the Ladies European