In 2026, VcG initiates the ‘German Swing’ with three new Pro Golf Tour events in Germany, each offering €40,000 in prize money.
2026 will be a milestone 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 Köln Open’, and ‘VcG Neuhof Open’ form a dedicated ‘German Swing’, where international young talents will compete on three prestigious courses in June 2026. Each event carries a prize purse of €40,000.
Three Tournaments, Three German 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 help them advance to higher levels and major tours,\” explains Marco Paeke, CEO of VcG. The tournaments will take place in Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Hesse: from June 9 to 11 at Golf Club Owingen-Überlingen (VcG Bodensee Open), from June 16 to 18 at Golf and Country Club Cologne (VcG Köln Open), and from June 23 to 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 showcases the venue as a host of the highest quality. Similarly, Achim Lehnstaedt, Club Manager of Golf and Country Club Cologne, states, \”We create a platform for young talents seeking the path to international professional golf and thus connect our tradition with the future of golf.\” Golf Club Neuhof also underlines the event’s importance for nurturing young players.
The clubs boast significant tournament histories. Legends such as Gary Player, Nick Faldo, and Seve Ballesteros competed at the German Open held at Golf and Country Club Cologne. Golf Club Owingen-Überlingen hosted the INGUN Cup and was part of the European Seniors Tour, while Golf Club Neuhof has held multiple German championships in youth and age categories.
The Pro Golf Tour as a Springboard for Professionals
The Pro Golf Tour itself 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, while the best players are exempted from the first stage of Qualifying School, a crucial step toward qualifying 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 the Challenge Tour (now HotelPlanner Tour) to the European Tour (now DP World Tour).
VcG’s investments extend beyond the Pro Golf Tour: For years, the association has supported top-tier tournaments such as the ‘German Challenge powered by VcG’ on the HotelPlanner Tour and