In 2026, VcG launches the German Swing with three new Pro Golf Tour tournaments in Germany, each offering €40,000 prize money.
2026 will be a special year for German professional golf: For the first time, the Vereinigung clubfreier Golfspieler (VcG) within the German Golf Association supports three new professional tournaments on the Pro Golf Tour in Germany. The German Swing consists of the ‘VcG Bodensee Open’, the ‘VcG Köln Open’, and the ‘VcG Neuhof Open’, where international young talents will compete on three renowned courses in June 2026. Each event offers a prize fund of €40,000.
Three Tournaments in Three Federal States, Each with €40,000 Prize Money
‘With our new commitment to the Pro Golf Tour, we aim to specifically support German talents. Our goal is to provide as many young professionals as possible with 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 to 11 at Golfclub Owingen-Überlingen (VcG Bodensee Open), from June 16 to 18 at Golf- und Land-Club Köln (VcG Köln Open), and from June 23 to 25 at Golf-Club Neuhof near Frankfurt (VcG Neuhof Open).
The involved clubs express great enthusiasm 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- und Land-Club Köln, states: ‘We create a platform for young talents seeking a path to international professional golf – thus connecting our tradition with the future of golf.’ The Golf-Club Neuhof also highlights the event’s significance in supporting young players.
The clubs have a notable tournament history. Golf- und Land-Club Köln hosted legends like Gary Player, Nick Faldo, and Seve Ballesteros at the German Open. Golfclub Owingen-Überlingen was the venue for the INGUN Cup and part of the European Seniors Tour, while Golf-Club Neuhof has hosted several 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 in the Order of Merit gain full playing privileges on the HotelPlanner Tour, while the best players are exempt from the first stage of Qualifying School, a key step towards earning DP World Tour eligibility. A prominent success story of this tour is Martin Kaymer, who in 2006 won five Pro Golf Tour events and progressed through this stage and the Challenge Tour (now HotelPlanner Tour) to qualify for the European Tour, now called the DP World Tour.
VcG’s investments extend beyond the Pro Golf Tour: the association has supported high-profile tournaments like the ‘German Challenge powered by VcG’ on the HotelPlanner Tour and the ‘Amundi German