Players trust Vandenberg, not only because of his proven methods, but because of his genuine desire to help others both on and off the course. In 1997, he conceptualized the Golf Marathon of Hope, a 24-hour individual golf endeavor where he played 400+ holes to raise monies for the Mel Trotter Ministries homeless shelter. Through hard work and dedication, his goal of raising $500,000 was accomplished after ten years of playing the event.

Charley Vandenberg is not only known for being an elite instructor but also an innovator. He has aspired to integrate the latest in technology and training aids thereby allowing players to become their best at the fastest rate. Current technologies in use include the V1 Video Analysis System, the TRACKMAN Launch Monitor, the TOMI Putting Analyzer, computerized Heart Rate Variability Training for peak performance, the MEGSA Perfect Practice Equipment (used by multiple PGA and LPGA Tour winners including Zach Johnson, Jonathon Byrd, Seon Hwa Lee and Morgan Pressel), and the BODITRAK Pressure Mat.

In 2010, Charley was named one of six instructors in the world accredited to teach the Laser Optics Putting System developed by putting expert, Mike Shannon (28 tour player students). Utilized extensively on all of the major tours and amateur competitions worldwide, this truly cutting edge information and technology has proven to dramatically benefit golfers of all abilities.

Over the past thirty-three years Charley has held and taught thirty-six on-site multiple day schools with the finest instructors in the world, including Dr.Gary Wiren, Gary Smith (Leadbetter Academy), Paul Geisler (HealthSouth), Mike Shannon (Sea Island) and Mike Bender (Mike Bender Golf Academy). Schools have ranged from specialized areas such as fitness (Geisler), putting (Shannon), and short game (Bender), to total game improvement (Wiren, Smith, Bender). Treasured associations with Mike Shannon (putting schools since 2005) and close friend and 2009 National PGA Teacher of the Year, Mike Bender (annual schools since 1994), have molded and motivated Charley to provide the finest instruction, based on the best information available, tempered with a sense of care and compassion witnessed while beside the best instructors of the game.

Vandenberg has taught all facets of the game to players of all skill levels. Competitively, in the last nine high school campaigns for girls and boys, seventy students received All State recognition. Eleven of these students were named to Michigan’s Super Team, annually comprised of the top eight male and female players in the state, and seven individual State Championships were claimed. Four of these students captained their #1 ranked teams in Michigan to state titles. In summer play, students are excelling and capturing titles on all tours, including the Meijer, Adams and AJGA.

On the college front, dozens of students have garnished scholarships past and present. Male and female students have been represented in every NCAA division with maximum scholarships as the division allows.

Students have captured nearly every major title in Michigan (many events multiple times) as well as titles in other states, including:

• Michigan Open Champion
• Tournament of Champions Champion
• Michigan Men’s Amateur Champion
• Michigan Women’s Amateur Champion
• GAM Mid-Amateur Champion
• GAM Women’s Senior Amateur Champion
• GAM Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion
• Michigan Women’s Senior Amateur Champion
• Michigan PGA Girls Junior Amateur Champion
• Michigan PGA Boys Junior Amateur Champion
• Michigan Junior Open Champion
• Michigan Senior Amateur Runner-up
• Grand Rapids City Match Play Champion
• Grand Rapids Women’s City Champion (17 times)
• Grand Rapids Women’s City Senior Champion
• Michigan “Mr. Golf” High School Champion
• Michigan Women’s Publinx Champion
• Grand Rapids City Junior Champions (both boys and girls, multiple age divisions)
• Northern Amateur Champion
• Northern Amateur Runner-up
• Missouri State Junior Amateur Champion
• U.S. Men’s Amateur participants
• U.S. Women’s Amateur participants
• U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur participants
• U.S. Junior Amateur participants

Special note: Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan, and six of Vandenberg’s female amateur students took turns capturing the City Championship over a period of ten years, placing first through fifth positions in both 2008 and 2009, first, third and fourth in 2011, and first and second in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Additionally, his students were crowned both Champion in the Women’s City Senior Championship in four of five years and Runner-up in two of five. In 2010, a 24-year student was awarded the Senior Women’s Player of the Decade by the Golf Association of Michigan.

Notable Professional Students include Tracy Hanson (coach since 2004)

• Improved GIR from 101st ranking to 30th
• Improved Driving Accuracy from 146th to 31st
• Improved Official Money from 124th to 69th
• Improved Cuts Made from 43% to 77%
• Improved Scoring Avg Standing from 119 to 54
• Improved World Ranking from 289 to 144
• Top 28 finishes in US, British, and Canadian Open (2006)
• Improved Scoring 4.4 shots per event