German Rainbow Open 2023

18th Intl. GERMAN-RAINBOW-OPEN

The annual international German gay/lesbian (LGBTIQ*) GOLF championships.

Friday, September 29th 2023 – Sunday October 1st 2023

Event Location:

Golfclub Hoesel Hoeseler Straße 147
42579 Heiligenhaus (close to Duesseldorf)

Get together / accreditation: Friday, September 29th 2023

1st tournament day: Saturday, September 30th 2023

2nd tournament day: Sunday, October 1st 2023

This is what our participants say:

Die GRO sind ein Fest unter Freunden. Golf in allen Leistungsklassen auf Top-Plätzen, professionell organisiert durch die German Rainbow Golfers und dazu ein Rahmenprogramm, das alle einbezieht. Ein Turnier von Freunden für Freunde!
MARKUS ORTLIEB | Heidelberg
Hosts and players were so very welcoming and inclusive that we felt right at home instantly, even though we were complete strangers to most everyone.
JIM FREIHOFER | Toronto
Die GRO sind ein Potpourri aus Spaß, Spannung, Sport und den unterschiedlichsten Menschen - kontinentübergreifend. Stets eine Reise wert.
TOBIAS KNAPPE | Berlin/Rostock
GRO is the premier gay golf tournament anywhere in the world! It is expertly managed and provides all that any gay golfer could ask for in a tournament.
J.L. QUEBBEMAN | Fort Lauderdale
I attended my first Rainbow Open in 2017. The Rainbow Open was a fantastic tournament. It was so professionally organised and all courses we played at Winstongolf, Scharmuetzelsee and Hoesel were of championship standard. So I've been back every year since 2017!
NICKOLAS BRENNAN | London
I already came 6 times. Always a great pleasure. The quality of the organization, the golf courses, the evenings and especially THE ATMOSPHERE… are wonderful.
CHRISTINE LEBON | Paris
Was ich bei der GRO liebe? Das starke Gemeinschaftsgefühl.
YOUNG-MIN LEE | Hamburg
Klasse Golf, klasse Event... das (in 2006 seinerzeit für mich) erste, grösste und nach wie vor für mich schönste Golfturnier der Community... 🙂
KATJA BORN | Hamburg
Meine Golfkarriere begann bei den German Rainbow Open! Über den Schnupperkurs wurde ich zum begeisterten Turnierteilnehmer und konnte sogar schon eine Medaille mit nach Hause nehmen. Man fühlt sich wirklich unter Freunden - auf dem Golfplatz und in der Bar.
ARMIN WALLNÖFER | Heidelberg
Sportlich, fröhlich, mit Freund:innen unterm Regenbogen, … Das schönste Golfturnier des Jahres - ein fester Termin in meinem Kalender.
ANDREA MARTSCHINK | München
Ein toll organisiertes, anspruchsvolles Turnier, mit internationalem Spielerfeld und hochwertigem Rahmenprogramm.
JOCHEN HELMER | Hamburg
Bunt, offen, anspruchsvoll auf hohem Niveau. Ein internationales Event, das sich durch perfekte Organisation mit Herz auszeichnet.
MARKUS GEISSLER | Berlin
Die OPEN sind einzigartig. Mit Herzblut organisiert und durchgeführt ist dieses für EUROPA einzigartige Event golferisches Jahreshighlight und freudvolles Familienfest zugleich. Über 80% der TN sind Wiederholungstäter.
OTTMAR MEIER | Seevetal
Mein sportliches Highlight des Jahres! Grandiose Golfplätze, tolle Sideevents und Freunde treffen. Kann es schon ab Saisonstart kaum erwarten.
MAIKL R. WIRTH | Stuttgart
Die GRO ermöglichen Golfen auf den besten und schönsten Golfanlagen Deutschlands zusammen mit guten Freunden.
STEPHAN ZIMMERMANN | Frankfurt-Main
Seit ich 2012 das erste Mal an den GRO teilgenommen habe, ist diese Veranstaltung ein absolutes „Muss“ in meinem Terminkalender. Ein wirklich richtig fein organisiertes Golfturnier im Zeichen des Regenbogens mit Suchtfaktor.
ANN-KATRIN THIMM | Frankfurt
An den jährlichen GRO teilzunehmen, bedeutet an einem großen, bunten und fröhlichen Familienfest beteiligt zu sein. Auf Weltklasse-Plätzen, in herrlichem Ambiente mit tollen Leuten.
MICHAEL MALL | Würzburg

The idea of the tournament

It was spring the year 2005 …

There were five of us and we had a common vision: We wanted to create an international golf tournament for lesbians and gays.

With high sporting standards, played over two days, on an 18-hole championship course. Above all, however, the focus was to be on fun and communication within the LGBTIQ community. For example, gender-mixed playing groups (only called “flights” in Germany) were a natural part of the plan, also in terms of playing strength.

Already in the same year, we were able to make our vision come true – and have been doing so again and again every fall since then. Today, the German-Rainbow-Open are a firmly established tournament in European gay and lesbian (LGBTIQ) golf.

In accordance with our philosophy, we want to introduce as many uninitiated lesbians and gays interested in golf as possible to this wonderful sport. A professional golf trial course is therefore always part of the German-Rainbow-Open. And we promise: Our LGBTIQ Community Golf Tournament is also suitable for players with little tournament experience.

STRAIGHTdrivesQUEERplayersPRIDEgolf

Important enhancements

The GRO continue to develop …

Golf is evolving and we want to make the GRO more attractive for all target groups. Therefore, we have thought about it, talked to many participants and decided on some changes and innovations. With both innovations, we are pursuing the goal of increasing the flow of the game and the fun factor for all participants.

Sustainable golf event

We want to be responsible with resources and host a golf tournament that reflects this approach. For this reason, we have been dispensing with beverage bottles for round catering since the 17th GRO and offer a refill system. We also do without starting gifts that offer no added value and quickly end up in the trash can, as well as multiple printed starting and results lists. The latter have also been available in digital form for all participants on demand since 2022.
Thus, we will continue to make further changes in the future in order to minimize our impact on the environment without losing sight of the value of the German-Rainbow-Open. We appreciate your understanding and even more your support of this approach.

Senior competition
With the 18th GRO we introduce a gender and class independent senior competition. Eligible for this new classification are participants aged 65 years and older.
The senior ranking will be played as a 9-hole tournament on both days (1x 9-hole on tournament day 1 and 1x 9-hole on tournament day 2). Participants in the senior ranking will therefore not be included in the class A-D rankings. The tournament will be played according to Stableford in a net ranking (net prizes 1-6).

Of course, eligible participants can also opt for the 18-hole competition (A-D) and thus not compete in the senior ranking.

Rookies – 9-hole tournament
We are also making adjustments to the tournament mode for participants with a handicap of +36 to +54. Optionally, you can choose whether you want to play in the rookie ranking and thus 1x 9 holes per day. With this we want to make the entry into the tournament world more attractive for “rookies”.
You are probably wondering what will happen if you improve your handicap by the time of the GRO so that you no longer qualify for the rookie ranking. In that case we ask you to contact us, because then you are indeed qualified for the 18-hole tournament and have to play it (+60 EUR additional payment for 18 hole greenfees).

Program

What awaits you …

Two major golf events in one weekend. Our 18th Open takes place against the backdrop of the Ryder Cup, which is being held in Rome at the same time. Therefore, we are leaning our supporting program a little bit on the biggest golf event in the world.

Friday Sept. 29th 2023

evening:
Get Together in the golf-restaurant Bofinger at the golfclub Hoesel
Self-payer/small card

5:30-7:30pm
GC HOESEL club-house
accreditation

8:00pm
Golf-restaurant Bofinger/club-house Hoesel
Welcome of the participants by the board of the German-Rainbow-Golfers association

around 9pm
Clubhaus Foyer & online-Download
GRO tee-off list for Saturday September 29th2023 (1. tournament day)

10pm
End of the evening at the bar in the Waldhotel Heiligenhaus

Saturday Sept. 30th 2023

from 08:00am

GC HOESEL golf reception: Issue of score cards, late accreditation

Captains-Briefing (planned)

On both courses shot-gun start for groups A, B, C and D.
Groups Rookies & Seniors play based on tee-times for organizational reasons.

North course, Classes A/B – 18-holes
10:00am Shot gun start

Subject to change

South course, Class C/D – 18 holes
10:00am Shot gun start

Subject to change

South course, Rookies & Seniors – 9 holes
10:30am tee-off times from tee box 1 or 10

North course, Half-way-snack

1 Station close to tee 1

1 Station close to tee 10

South course, Half-way-snack

1 Station close to tee 10

from around 3.30pm (optional / expected):

Club-house:

Get Together

7:00pm

PLAYERSNITE / Dance party

Bofinger restaurant:

Champagne reception, dinner (barbeque), award ceremony special prizes, TOMBOLA / Silent Auction

Non-alcoholic drinks & water flat rate for 1h from the opening of the buffet, sponsorship by GRG e.V.

from 9pm

Club-house lobby:

Posting of the GRO start lists for Sunday, October 1st (2nd day of the tournament)

Open end

End of the Saturday event

Sunday October 1st 2023

from 08:00am

GC Hoesel Golf reception: Issuing of the scorecards

On both courses and for all groups tee times.

South course, Classes A/B,

Tee 1 from 8:30am,

Subject to change

North course, Class C/D

Tee 1 from 9:00am

North course, Rookies & Seniors

Tee 1 from – to be announced

Subject to change

North course, Half-way-snack

1 station close to tee 1

1 station close to tee 10

South course, Half-way-snack

1 station close to tee 10

from around 4pm / 5pm

Club house terrace,

“Welcome of the Champions”

Beverages – Sponsorship by the GRG association; group photo if applicable

6pm

Bofinger restaurant:

Award ceremony of all groups of the 18th German-Rainbow-Open 2023, Pink-Jacket-Award, press photo.

Self-payer/small ticket

7:00pm

Official closing and end of the 18th German-Rainbow-Open.

Here: Download of the program as PDF

Where to stay

Having a heavenly sleep …

you can stay in our tournament hotel – WALDHOTEL HEILIGENHAUS. Also for the 18th GRO we could negotiate a large room contingent and special conditions for all our participants.

The special conditions are valid in the following period::

Arrival date: September 28th | 2023 Departure date: October 2nd 2023

Special price in single room of € 98,00 per night and room
Special price in double room of € 133,00 per night and room
breakfast included

Booking must be made directly with the hotel – keyword GRO2023

Waldhotel Heiligenhaus, Parkstrasse 38, 42579 Heiligenhaus
for reservations: Tel.: +49 2056 – 59 70
for reservations: reservierung@wald-hotel.de
www.wald-hotel.de

The cancellation conditions of the hotel apply, which can be requested directly from the hotel.

In addition, there are numerous hotels in the region due to its proximity to Duesseldorf. In Heiligenhaus itself with the hotel “Neues Pastorat” an alternative is available.

Tournament announcement

The official tournament announcement …

is available for you to download here. Please read it carefully to familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions of the tournament:

Download the official Tournament Announcement

Packages, booking and payment

We have put together these packages …

Booking

Please note the information under the menu item “Important news”.

After booking a package, you will receive a confirmation to the email address you provided. Please note that your start or participation place is only guaranteed if you have transferred the corresponding package price in full to the account indicated below. A few days after your booking you will receive an invoice. This includes an invoice number, which you please indicate as reason for payment in the transfer.

Registration deadline: September 23rd, 2023

Please note our GRO cancellation policy.

Payment

Payment of the package price at the latest 14 days after booking (confirmation immediately by email):

Payee: German-Rainbow-Golfers e.V.
Bank: Deutsche Skatbank
Branch of the VR-Bank Altenburger Land eG | Altenburger Str. 13 | 04626 Schmölln
IBAN: DE82 8306 5408 0005 2462 70
BIC/SWIFT: GENODEF1SLR
reason for payment: first and last name, GRO2023, invoice number

Package A18 – Groups A-D
Normal: 305 EUR

Starting gift
2x 18 hole tournament
all evaluations
small lunch package (bring your own bottle for refill) & 2x halfway catering
1x evening event with barbeque & PlayersNite
Welcome of the Champion Drinks
Award ceremony with prizes

Package A9 – Rookie
Normal: 245 EUR

Starting gift
2x 9 hole tournament
all evaluations
small lunch package (bring your own bottle for refill) & 2x halfway catering
1x evening event with barbeque & PlayersNite
Welcome of the Champion Drinks
Award ceremony with prizes

Package S9 – Seniors 65 years and older
Normal: 245 EUR

Package F – Fun
Normal: 120 EUR

Start gift
small lunch package (bring your own bottle for refill) & 2x halfway catering
1x evening event with Barbeque & PlayersNite
Welcome of the Champion Drinks
Award ceremony with prizes

Package T – Trial – trial course* (takes place only with a minimum of 5 persons)
Normal: 225 EUR

Start gift
Trial course on Saturday Sept 30th
small lunch package (bring your own bottle for refill) & 2x halfway catering
1x evening event with barbeque & PlayersNite
Welcome of the Champion Drinks
Award ceremony with prizes
*If the course does not take place due to a low number of participants, a downgrade to package F will be made with a corresponding refund of the difference.