The Road to Mallorca heads to Germany for the first time this year for the Big Green Egg German Challenge powered by VcG, which takes place at Wittelsbacher Golfclub from September 5-8. Here’s everything you need to know…
Wittelsbacher Golfclub
Wittelsbacher Golfclub, founded in 1988, was once where the horses of Bavarian kings used to breed but was transformed by Dutch golf course architect Joan Dudok van Heel into one of the most picturesque and beautiful golf courses in Germany. The parkland layout plays as a par 73, measuring 7,479 yards and the 200-year-old oak and linden trees that line the fairways provide a unique challenge and a stern test for many of the golfers competing this week in Bavaria.
The fourth edition
This week will mark the fourth edition of the Big Green Egg German Challenge powered by VcG. Spaniard Angel Hidalgo secured his maiden Challenge Tour title at the inaugural edition in 2021 after he took advantage of a last-minute invite to play at Wittelsbacher Golfclub. In 2022 it was another Spaniard, Alejandro Del Rey, who won his maiden title after defeating Mateusz Gradecki on the second extra hole in Bavaria. Last year Italian Francesco Laporta secured his third Challenge Tour title on his way to securing promotion to the DP World Tour.
German success
The Challenge Tour has seen many German graduates rise through the ranks to compete on the DP World Tour such as two-time Major winner Martin Kaymer and DP World Tour winners including Marcel Siem, Tobias Dier and Yannik Paul. Former World Number One Kaymer graduated from the Challenge Tour in 2006 and went on to win the 2010 U.S. PGA Championship and the 2014 U.S. Open. Dier, who graduated in 2000, went on to win on the DP World Tour at the North West of Ireland Open and in the following year secured victory at the TNT Open in the Netherlands. Siem has seven DP World Tour titles to his name, including the Italian Open earlier this year, while Paul secured his maiden title at the 2022 Mallorca Golf Open. With many Germans proving they can do it on the big stage, this week will showcase another pool of talent coming out of Germany.
