Vivien Saunders


Vivien Inez Saunders, is a retired English professional golfer, known after winning the Women's British Open in 1977. She had a successful amateur career, appearing in the 1968 Curtis Cup. She has published a number of golf books and instructional videos.

Early years

Saunders was born in Sutton, Surrey on 24 November 1946 and educated at Nonsuch County High School, Cheam, Surrey.

Golf career

Saunders was runner-up to Liz Chadwick in the 1966 British Ladies Amateur Golf Championship, losing 3 & 2 in the final.
Saunders turned professional in early 1969 and became the first European to qualify for the LPGA Tour later in 1969.

Other achievements

She was editor of Lady Golfer for several years, also the founder of the Women's Professional Golf Association and the European Women's Tour. She was made honorary life member of PGA and Women's European Tour but had to resign from both to regain amateur status and play. Previously on Executive Committee of PGA, Chairman Women's PGA. She was a council member of National Coaching Foundation from 1993 to 1997. She has twice won the British Sports Coach of the Year Award.
In 1986, she bought Abbotsley Golf Club, near St Neots, Cambridgeshire. She is the chairman of the Association of Golf Course Owners.
Saunders was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to women's golf in the 1998 New Year Honours.
In the 2015 general election, she ran against Prime Minister David Cameron in Witney for the Reduce VAT in Sport party, which she also led.

Disputes with neighbours

Saunders waged a personal campaign against her neighbours, occupants of land that she leased for building lodges.
She was convicted of assault after driving into a neighbour with her Mercedes SUV. She was also convicted of assaulting a second neighbour by spraying his face with a substance in a bottle. The second neighbour later committed suicide, the coroner finding that it is "probable that his worries over the forthcoming court case contributed more than minimally to his actions". The case, a dispute over water rights, resulted in an extraordinarily long judgment where Saunders lost on all counts and was strongly criticised for behaviour including "mimic counsel for the first defendant in a derogatory manner", "abus counsel for the first defendant both in writing and orally", and falsely claiming that a defendant was queuing for coffee "in an aggressive manner". Her honesty was also questioned, with vital paperwork not provided to the court from her filing room, which she refers to as "the Fred West suite", with Saunders saying "that she understood the obligations of disclosure but also said that it would make no difference if a solicitor were instructed as a solicitor could only disclose those documents revealed by their lay client.... indicating that she felt that an individual litigant may well not reveal documents."

Amateur wins

  • 1967 Avia Foursomes

    Professional wins

  • 1977 Women's British Open
  • 1978 Avia Foursomes
  • 1980 British Car Auctions Tournament
  • Keighley Trophy
  • four tournaments in Australia

    Team appearances

Amateur
  • Curtis Cup : 1968
  • European Ladies' Team Championship : 1967
  • Commonwealth Trophy : 1967
  • Vagliano Trophy : 1967