17^th GERMAN-RAINBOW-OPEN

The annual international German Gay/Lesbian (LGBTI) GOLF Championships.

Friday, September 30, 2022 – Sunday, October 2, 2022

venue:

Golfclub Hösel Höseler Straße 147
42579 Heiligenhaus (close to Düsseldorf)

get together / accreditation: Fri, September 30, 2022

first tournament day: Sat, October 1, 2022

second tournament day: Sun, October 2, 2022

Statements to the German Rainbow Open:

Ein toll organisiertes, anspruchsvolles Turnier, mit internationalem Spielerfeld und hochwertigem Rahmenprogramm.
JOCHEN HELMER | Hamburg
Die GRO ermöglichen Golfen auf den besten und schönsten Golfanlagen Deutschlands zusammen mit guten Freunden.
STEPHAN ZIMMERMANN | Frankfurt-Main
I attended my first Rainbow Open in 2017. The Rainbow Open was a fantastic tournament. It was so professionally organised and both the courses we played at Winstongolf were of championship standard. So I'll be back in 2018!
NICKOLAS BRENNAN | London
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 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
Bunt, offen, anspruchsvoll auf hohem Niveau. Ein internationales Event, das sich durch perfekte Organisation mit Herz auszeichnet.
MARKUS GEISSLER | Berlin
Mein sportliches Highlight des Jahres! Grandiose Golfplätze, tolle Sideevents und Freunde treffen. Kann es schon ab Saisonstart kaum erwarten.
MAIKL R. WIRTH | Stuttgart
Sportlich, fröhlich, mit Freund:innen unterm Regenbogen, … Das schönste Golfturnier des Jahres - ein fester Termin in meinem Kalender.
ANDREA MARTSCHINK | München
Die GRO sind ein Potpourri aus Spaß, Spannung, Sport und den unterschiedlichsten Menschen - kontinentübergreifend. Stets eine Reise wert.
TOBIAS KNAPPE | Berlin/Rostock
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
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
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
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
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
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
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

Idea of the tournament

It was the spring of 2005 …

There were five of us and we had a common vision: We wanted to create our own 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 fun and communication within the LGBTI community should be in the foreground. For example, mixed flights, also in terms of playing level, were a natural part of the plan.

In the same year we were able to turn our vision into reality – and have been doing so every autumn ever since. Today the German Rainbow Open is a firmly established tournament in European gay and lesbian golf (LGBTI).

According to our philosophy we want to introduce as many still inexperienced lesbians and gays interested in golf as possible to this wonderful sport. A professional golf introductory course is therefore always part of the German Rainbow Open. And we promise: Our LGBTI Community Golf Tournament is also suitable for players with little tournament experience.

Be there! We look forward to seeing you, all of you.

STRAIGHTdrivesQUEERplayersPRIDE golf

Program

Event-Home

For the second time we are guests at the Golfclub HÖSEL (approx. 20 km east of Düsseldorf Airport) with the now 17^th German Rainbow Open. We will play both 18-hole golf courses, the South and the North Course, alternately/crosswise on both tournament days. Information about the tournament courses can be found here.

At Golfclub HÖSEL we have now found a great assembly of golf courses and club-venue a central location in Germany, which offers an ideal location for our annual GRO. Managing Director Matthias Nicolaus and his team at the golf club – as well as Ina-Marie Strasser and her team at the gastronomy of the restaurant GUSTUS – are looking forward to being our hosts again in fall 2022.

Accreditation, Get Together:

Accreditation, welcome speech and the official event opening will take place on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at the clubhouse of the golf club Hösel and the associated restaurant GUSTUS.

Hotel nights

We have negotiated an exclusive agreement with the Waldhotel Heiligenhaus. If you book until the deadline, you will benefit from special conditions. You’ll find the details (also for some days before / after the GRO) and how long they will be available, under the menu item hotel recommendations.

Early-bird discount

The early booking discount applies to all packages as indicated – if payment is received by July 15, 2022.

Practice rounds (optional), special green fees

Optional practice rounds are possible on the days before our tournament. Special green fee (18 holes) weekdays 50,- EUR / holidays and WE 60,- EUR

For these rounds, please contact the golf club directly and book the tee time that suits you. You can book

by e-mail: service@golfclubhoesel.de

or by phone (club management): +49 2056 9337 12

Payment system during all event days:

For the days of the event, food vouchers will be available in the clubhouse restaurant GUSTUS from Friday, September 30, 2022

Download program flyer / schedule information 17th GRO 2022 as pdf

Friday, September 30, 2022

Registration | Get Together | Welcome, Opening of the event

Registration: 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm in the reception area golf clubhouse.

Get-Together at the golf clubhouse and its restaurant GUSTUS: In a casual atmosphere with food offerings (reduced menu, to be paid individually) everyone will have the opportunity to get together with other participants. At around 8pm the welcome speech and the official opening of this year’s German Rainbow Open will be held.

We aim to publish the starting lists for the first tournament day (Friday) at around 9pm at the black-board of the club house.

Saturday, October 1, 2022

1^st tournament day of the 17th GRO | golf introductory course | dinner in the GUSTUS restaurant at the golf club

From 8.00 am:

Tournament check-in and option for late arrivals to register until 8:30am (please provide upfront info if you can register earliest by Saturday) at the reception desk within the golf clubhouse.

On day one we’ll play the first 18 holes in groups of four (ideally mixed genders)

10.00 am:

Shotgun on both courses:

Groups A/B:

North course

Groups C/D:

South course

————————————————

In parallel to the first tournament day:

10.00 am to approx. 3.30 pm:

Golf-introductory course, including lunch break (Halfway station at Tee 1 of the South course close to the Driving Range).

Meeting time/point 10.00 am at the golf reception desk in the club house.

————————————————

From around 3.30 pm (optional and expected):

Get Together (optional & expected) in the golf club house. After the first tournament round participants will have the opportunity to meet within the restaurant GUSTUS

7.00 pm:

Champagne reception in the foyer of the restaurant “GUSTUS”. Dinner (buffet) including a selection of drinks until 11.00 pm in the clubhouse restaurant GUSTUS. A raffle with attractive prizes as well as the “small award ceremony” for special competitions and introductory participants will round off the evening.

Sunday, October 2, 2022

2^nd Tournament day of the 17th GRO | PlayersNight: festive buffet, award ceremony, party at the Clubhaus Restaurant GUSTUS

The winners of the 17^th German-Rainbow-Open will be determined on Sunday October 2, 2022:

Players will be grouped into groups of three and will start based on the stroke play results (A+B), respectively net-results (C+D) of the previous day.

Groups A/B:

South Course:
Tee 1 from 9:30 am – subject to alterations
Tee 12 from 9.15 am – subject to alterations

Groups C/D:

North Course:
Tee 1 from 9:15 am – subject to alterations
Tee 10 from 9:15 am – subject to alterations

From approx. 3:30/4:00 pm:

Welcome of the Champions – snacks and drinks at green 18 of the South Course (terrace Clubhouse)

7.00 pm:

Opening of the gala evening in the foyer of the clubhouse / restaurant GUSTUS

Around 7.30 pm:

Players night including gala buffet, award ceremony (winners 1-3 within all handicap groups for female and male), Pink Jacket award to the overall stroke-play winners female and male.

Around 9:30 pm

Dance party at clubhouse restaurant GUSTUS

0:00 midnight:

end of the event

Golf Introductory Course

Getting to know golf:

We are committed to introducing those interested in golf to the LGBTIQ community. That’s why we offer a golf introduction course with the help of the golfmanagement of our hosting golf club.

Parallel to the first round of the tournament on Saturday, October 1, 2022, non-golfers will have the chance to experience the fascination of golf in a golf introduction course lasting several hours under the guidance of a professional golf instructor. Rental clubs, balls and guided tour included.

The schedule:

10.00 – noon training
noon – 1 pm lunch break (snack at the catering station at tee 1, Südplatz, close to the practice area)
1 pm – 3 pm practice
3 pm small tournament of the introduction course participants

On Sunday, October 2, graduates of the introduction course can rent clubs and use the practice facilities for a fee. In case you are interested, please contact the golf reception.

———

Important note:

Please bring non-slip shoes to the introduction course!

Registration for the introductory course (package “TRY”) automatically includes the participation in the two evening events on October 1 & 2 at the golfclub restaurant GUSTUS.

Enrollment fee, packages & booking

The early bird price of each tournament package is valid upon receipt of payment by July 15, 2022 at the latest. Every registration issued will be binding.

Please check our cancellation policy to understand the terms & conditions in the unpleasant event of a cancellation.

Pack A / GRO ALL

2 tournament days, 2 evening events

Early bird price
(registration until July 15, 2022):

335

Regular price
(registration from July 16, 2022):

385

Included Services

Friday, 30-Sep-2022:
Accreditation, tee off present,

welcome speech

Saturday, 1-Oct-2022:
18 holes tournament incl. halfway,

dinner at the golf club restaurant,

selection of drinks during dinner,

small award ceremony (special prizes)

tombola

Sunday, 2-Oct-2022:
18 holes tournament, incl. halfway,

dinner / evening event at the golf club restaurant

selection of drinks during dinner,

award ceremony / Pink Jacket Award

dance party

BOOK pack A

Pack B / GRO TRY:

golf trial course, 2 evening events

Early bird special

(registration until July 15, 2022):

248

Regular price
(registration from July 16, 2022):

275

Included Services

Friday, 30-Sep-2022:
Accreditation, tee off present,

welcome speech

Saturday, 1-Oct-2022:
golf trial course, incl. snack (halfway food of the official tournament),

dinner at the golf club restaurant,

selection of drinks during dinner,

small award ceremony (special prizes)

tombola

Sunday, 2-Oct-2022:
dinner / evening event at the golf club restaurant

selection of drinks during dinner,

award ceremony / Pink Jacket Award

dance party

BOOK pack B

Pack C / GRO FUN:

2 evening events

early bird special

(registration until July 15, 2022):

179

Regular price

(registration from July 16, 2022):

199

Included Services

Friday, 30-Sep-2022:
Accreditation, tee off present,

welcome speech

Saturday, 1-Oct-2022:
dinner at the golf club restaurant,

selection of drinks during dinner,

small award ceremony (special prizes)

tombola

Sunday, 2-Oct-2022:
dinner / evening event at the golf club restaurant

selection of drinks during dinner,

award ceremony / Pink Jacket Award

dance party

BOOK Pack C

Tournament T&C’s

Important Information – please read.

All relevant information about the scoring classes, game / start mode, caddy rules, play-off… etc. are available here for download in the form of the official tournament T&C document (asap).

Ambitious tournament players always check out the tournament T&C’s. We at the German Rainbow Open explicitly welcome golfers who do not yet have that much experience in tournaments. That being said we kindly ask also newbies to download the T&C’s and study it carefully.

MARKUS Ortlieb will be happy to answer all questions around the tournament T&C’s, just contact him – tournament@german-rainbow-open.com

Download German-Rainbow-Open Tournament T&Cs

Notes on enrollment

Gender note:

In case you select “diverse” as the gender option when registering, the tournament org-team will contact you regarding the classification to ensure correct allocation.

The early-bird special will apply only on receipt of payment until July 15, 2022.

We strongly recommend to enroll asap – due to organizational reasons the total number of participants will be limited. In case of late enrollments we’ll keep a waiting list based on a first paid first registered principle.

All golfers carrying a golf handicap index of 54 or better are entitled to enroll. Bring a handicap certificate (details see tournament T&C‘s).

Last date to enroll will be September 20, 2022. In case you’ll be able to register after September 20, 2022 you’ll for sure get a spot in case one is left. Otherwise we’ll put you on the waiting list and inform you as soon as a spot becomes available.

Your participation spot will be finally confirmed after we’ve received your payment onto the account listed alongside. Please ensure to fully complete an enrollment for every individual separately. Subsequently a confirmation including all enrollment details will be sent to the Email-address provided during registration.

In case you do wish to amend your enrollment afterwards please ensure to provide us with your request via email to info@german-rainbow-golfers.com

DO NOT COMPLETE THE ENROLLMENET FORM AGAIN!

Please ensure to transfer the entry fee latest 14 days after your registration (in order to receive the early bird discount, payment must be received by 15 July 2022), stating your first name, surname, “GRO 2022” as well as the reference number indicated on the bottom of your invoice to the following account:

Recipient:

German-Rainbow-Golfers e. V.

Bank:

Deutsche Skatbank
Zweigndl. d. VR-Bank Altenburger Land eG, Altenburger Str. 13, 04626 Schmölln

IBAN:

DE82 8306 5408 0005 2462 70

SWIFT/BIC:

GENODEF1SLR

Fore!

Your enrollment is binding. In the unpleasant case of cancellation, please check our cancellation policy.

To enrollment fee, packages & booking

Hotel recommendations

For evening to morning.

The location of our 17th German Rainbow Open 2022, Golfclub Hösel (near Heiligenhaus), is about 25 km north-east of Düsseldorf city center and offers numerous accommodation options in the surrounding area.

At a hotel very close to the golf club, we were able to set up call-off contingents for our participants at special rates and book ourselves in “exclusively” (provided that all rooms will have been reserved by GRO participants by the deadline).

The WALDHOTEL HEILIGENHAUS is approx. 5 km from the Hösel Golf Club and is quietly located in a small forest.

WALDHOTEL HEILIGENHAUS

Parkstraße 38

42579 Heiligenhaus (close to Düsseldorf)

phone: +49 20 56 – 597-0

fax: +49 20 56 597-260

e-mail: reservierung@wald-hotel.de

website: Waldhotel Heiligenhaus

We have an order contingent until August 15, 2022 at the following special rates, valid from September 30 to October 3, 2022:

80 comfort rooms (various room categories)

Single room EUR 95,00 including breakfast per night and room

Double room EUR 127,00 including breakfast per night and room

bookings can be made by telephone or by e-mail

Ensure to tell them the keyword when booking: “GRO 2022”

For bookings after 15 August 2022, daily rates apply.

If you don’t want to stay at the Waldhotel or there are no more free rooms, you can try your luck at the hotel “Neues Pastorat” in the same place.

Spacious, modern rooms await you in this barrier-free accommodation. However, we have not negotiated a contingent here.