March 12, 2017, brought two very different scenes to British Columbia. At Ledgeview Golf Club in Abbotsford, Gerry Hadwin sat glued to the television with club regulars. They watched every shot of the Valspar Championship over beer and pizza. Meanwhile, just miles away, Brenda Hadwin paced nervously around their home. She couldn’t bear to watch her son, Adam Hadwin, compete. The stress was too much. Finally, at 10 minutes to 3 p.m., she turned on the TV. Adam was on the 18th green, about to secure his first PGA Tour victory. Her hands started shaking immediately.

This contrast perfectly captures how Adam’s parents supported him throughout his journey. Both were deeply invested. Both were incredibly proud. They just showed it differently.

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Adam Hadwin’s family roots: From Gerry’s PGA career to Prairie boy heritage

Adam Jerald Hadwin was born on November 2, 1987, in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. His family moved to Abbotsford, British Columbia, when he was about two years old. Despite growing up in BC, Adam still calls himself “a Prairie boy at heart.” He is Caucasian and Canadian.

Gerry Hadwin joined the Canadian PGA in 1979. He worked at Ledgeview Golf Club for years, eventually becoming Director of Golf. Today, he works as a starter at the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club. Gerry was known for exceptional short-game skills. His wedge play and putting ability were legendary. Ironically, these were the exact areas where young Adam struggled most.

Brenda Hadwin was raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She worked at Sears Canada. However, Brenda is best known for something unusual. She simply cannot watch Adam compete. During that 2017 Valspar victory, she only caught the final moments. Both Gerry and Brenda currently live in Saskatoon.

Adam grew up at Ledgeview Golf Club. The challenging par-70 course measures less than 6,200 yards with sloping greens and tight fairways. Fellow Ledgeview alumnus Nick Taylor, a three-time PGA Tour winner, was Adam’s childhood clubmate.

How Gerry Hadwin’s short game mastery shaped Adam’s golf journey

Gerry gave Adam unparalleled access to golf as a PGA professional for over 25 years. However, their relationship as teacher and student was complicated. Adam’s strong-willed nature made direct coaching nearly impossible during his teenage years.

“There’s not too many people that really liked him when he was 16 or 17 years old. I’m not sure golf is going to be your sport.”

Despite this tension, Gerry’s expertise profoundly shaped Adam’s development. The contrast between Gerry’s natural short game talent and Adam’s struggles became a motivating factor.

“If I could just suck my short game out of me and give it to you, I’d quit golf right now.”

Adam transformed his putting from weakness to strength. In 2015, he ranked 48th on the PGA Tour in strokes gained putting. By 2016, he rocketed to 12th. He spent $50,000 on biomechanical analysis at a Vancouver putting lab. The diagnosis: he was launching putts at 4-5 degrees, causing bouncing and backspin. By switching to a left-hand-low grip and optimizing his launch angle to 1-1.5 degrees, he became elite.

The Hadwin family faced challenges beyond golf. Adam’s younger brother Kyle was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at age nine. Kyle underwent five major surgeries and spent extended periods hospitalized. During the 2011 Canadian Open, Kyle was released from St. Paul’s Hospital specifically to watch Adam compete. Adam finished tied for second, earning $228,800.

This experience gave Adam perspective. Gerry also started a charity golf tournament supporting the C.H.I.L.D. Foundation after Kyle’s diagnosis. The tournament became the Adam Hadwin Charity Classic, raising over $650,000 for families dealing with intestinal and liver disorders.

Adam Hadwin’s life with Jessica: From Tinder to The Hadwin Family Foundation

Adam married Jessica Dawn Kippenberger on March 24, 2017, just two weeks after his first PGA Tour victory. Jessica was born on March 27, 1991, in Wichita, Kansas. She built a healthcare career as a pharmacy technician, registered nurse, and eventually a hospitalist acute care nurse practitioner.

The couple met in 2014 on Tinder while Adam was playing on the Web.com Tour in Wichita. Adam proposed in 2016 using Hangman during the Dean and DeLuca Invitational. He admitted he had no intention of proposing that night, but it felt right.

Their path to parenthood was difficult. Jessica suffered two pregnancy losses in 2018. The couple pursued IVF in 2019. During Jessica’s pregnancy, she witnessed a double rainbow from a plane window—vertical strips of color descending through darkness. This became their symbol of hope.

On January 8, 2020, they welcomed Maddox Amelia Hadwin, their “Rainbow Baby.” Maddox is now five years old and travels with her parents to tournaments.

In May 2020, Adam and Jessica established The Hadwin Family Foundation. The nonprofit supports families experiencing medical and financial hardships, focusing on infertility support. The foundation’s Maddy’s Miracle Grant provides financial assistance for IVF. To date, they’ve awarded eight full IVF cycles, with three babies born and another on the way. They’ve also provided $45,000 to their Genetic Testing Fund.

“Having Maddy’s Miracle Grant has really opened my eyes to how much that piece is weighted in the process. It’s make-or-break for most people.”

Jessica balances multiple roles as mother, foundation co-founder, and social media personality who shares candid glimpses of tour life.

From Gerry’s decades as a Canadian PGA professional to Adam and Jessica’s foundation work, the Hadwin family exemplifies resilience and a commitment to giving back. Gerry showed Adam the importance of community support through his charity work. Today, Adam and Jessica carry that legacy forward, helping families overcome the same barriers they faced.