In 2026, the VcG will launch the German Swing: three new Pro Golf Tour events in Germany with €40,000 prize money each to support young talents.
2026 marks a special year for professional golf in Germany as the Association of Clubless Golfers in the German Golf Federation (VcG) will support three new professional tournaments on the Pro Golf Tour held in Germany. The German Swing, consisting of the VcG Bodensee Open, VcG Cologne Open, and VcG Neuhof Open, will gather international rising stars on three prestigious courses in June 2026. Each tournament offers a prize purse of €40,000.
Three Tournaments, Three States, €40,000 Each
\”With our new commitment on the Pro Golf Tour, we aim to specifically nurture German talent. Our goal is to provide as many young professionals as possible with international tournament experience and pave their way to higher tours,\” explains Marco Paeke, CEO of VcG. The tournaments 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 and Country Club Cologne (VcG Cologne Open), and June 23-25 at Golf-Club Neuhof near Frankfurt (VcG Neuhof Open).
The participating clubs express great enthusiasm about the premiere. Jean-Claude Parent, President of Golfclub Owingen-Überlingen, highlights that hosting a German Swing tournament crowns the sporting ambitions of the club and showcases its facility as a high-quality host. Similarly, Achim Lehnstaedt, Club Manager of Golf and Country Club Cologne, comments, \”We create a platform for young talents aiming for international professional golf – linking our tradition with the future of golf.\” The Golf-Club Neuhof also emphasizes the event’s importance in supporting young players.
These clubs have impressive tournament histories. Legends like Gary Player, Nick Faldo, and Seve Ballesteros have competed at the Golf and Country Club Cologne during the German Open. Golfclub Owingen-Überlingen hosted the INGUN Cup and was part of the European Seniors Tour, while Golf-Club Neuhof frequently held German championships in youth and age categories.
The Pro Golf Tour as a Springboard for Professionals
The Pro Golf Tour is recognized as an official pathway for emerging golfers: the top five on the Order of Merit earn full playing rights on the HotelPlanner Tour, and the best players are exempt from the first stage of qualifying school, a crucial step towards eligibility for the DP World Tour. A notable success story is Martin Kaymer, who won five Pro Golf Tour events in 2006 and advanced via this tour and the Challenge Tour (now HotelPlanner Tour) to the European Tour (now DP World Tour).
Besides investing in the Pro Golf Tour, the VcG has long supported top-level 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. These events are key professional fixtures in the German golf calendar, contributing significantly