Scottsdale, Ariz. – Monique “Mo” Gesualdi, PGA and LPGA Director of Instruction at St. Johns Golf & Country Club in St. Augustine, Florida, has been named “2024 Troon Coach of the Year” by Troon’s Education and Player Development team. Gesualdi oversees the golf instruction program at The Golf Academy at St. Johns while coaching juniors, women and men to reach their highest potential by getting their mind, body and swing all working together.
“We received over 25 nominations for our Coach of the Year Award, with top instructors such as Joe Hallet at Vanderbilt Legends Club, Lindy LaBauve from Westin Kierland Resort and Spa, Doug Hammer from Troon North, and David Curtis from Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort all nominated. This is an indication of the depth of quality and caring teaching professionals at Troon-managed facilities,” said Troon Global Director of Education and Coaching, Tim Mahoney. “Monique exemplifies the characteristics of the elite coach: humility, motivator, caring, listener and relationship builder. This award could be named after Monique. Congratulations Mo!”
Gesualdi has been Director of Instruction at St. Johns Golf & Country Club since May of 2021 and is a two-time winner of the North Florida PGA Youth Player Development Award Winner (2023, 2024). In her teaching, “Coach Mo” takes a holistic coaching approach, focusing on understanding each player’s individual swing tendencies, physical condition, mental approach, nutritional habits, and other factors. This approach aims to optimize performance by addressing all aspects of a player’s development. Gesualdi believes in ensuring cohesion among the developmental team, parents, and the player is essential for the player’s success. This unified approach plays a pivotal role in achieving goals and maximizing potential. When not on the practice tee, Gesualdi hosts the Coach Mo Podcast.
“Mo represents everything we look for in coach,” said Steve Loesher, PGA and Troon Director of Player Development. “She connects with her students and her coaches, is innovative, hardworking, and is always looking to improve and grow.”
A Florida native, Gesualdi had a successful junior and high school golf career, before moving on to play collegiately at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. As a junior golfer she was a two-time AJGA All-American (2002, 2003), won back-to-back national championships at the Women’s Western Junior (2002, 2003), and was two-time St. Augustine Record and Florida Times Union Player of the Year. The St. Augustine Record also recognized Gesualdi as the “Athlete of the Decade” for girl’s golf for the 2000’s for St. Johns County. While at Furman, Gesualdi had one individual and two team wins, was selected as a First Team All-American her sophomore year, and was named Southern Conference Player of the Month (Oct 2004).
In the spring of 2012, Gesualdi received a life-saving liver transplant, followed shortly by two miraculous craniotomies to remove a lethal fungal infection (invasive aspergillosis) that developed in her brain while immunosuppressed in the hospital. Her doctor said at the time, “You can count on one hand, world-wide, the number of immuno-compromised patients who have survived this infection.” Invasive aspergillus is associated with very poor response rates, leading to nearly 90 percent mortality rates in liver transplant patients.
Mo Gesualdi is one of the many outstanding golf instructors at Troon-affiliated facilities around the world. In addition to lessons, clinics and golf schools, Troon offers Troon Coach, a full-service online platform where golfers can find local golf coaches, trainers and instructional events; book and pay for lessons; and track and analyze practice sessions. Golfers can learn more by visiting www.troon.com/coach.
About Troon
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon is the world’s largest golf and golf-related hospitality management company providing services at 900-plus locations in 45-plus states and 35-plus countries, including operational responsibility for 575-plus 18-hole equivalent golf courses. In addition to golf, Troon specializes in homeowner association management, private residence clubs, estate management and associated hospitality venues. Troon’s award-winning food and beverage division operates and manages 600-plus food and beverage operations located at golf resorts, private clubs, daily fee golf courses and recreational facilities. Troon’s family of brands includes Troon Golf, Troon Privé, Troon International, Indigo Sports, CADDIEMASTER, ClubUp, Cliff Drysdale Tennis, Peter Burwash International, True Club Solutions, RealFood Hospitality, Strategy and Design, Casa Verde Golf, ICON Management and Eventive Sports. For additional news and information, visit www.Troon.com.
Media Contact:
Rob Myers
Troon
480.477.0506
rmyers@troon.com
