Significant momentum is building in support of this national campaign by National Golf Clubs‘ Advisory Association which is aimed at raising the awareness of mediation in the civil and community law sectors. Local mediators have been appointed throughout the country and various other mediation related programmes are being run.
A glance through the law reports demonstrates how the golf club environment creates a fertile ground for litigation. Earlier this year a dispute between the most distinguished golfer Vivienne Saunders and the Children in Golf Strategy Group was widely reported in the national press.
NGCAA asks if there are not alternative methods available to resolve these disputes which are less expensive, more effective and explore alternative ways which will help parties build rather than destroy future working relationships?
Mediation is one such alternative. What is mediation? It is a flexible process conducted confidentially in which a neutral person helps parties work towards a negotiated agreement.
The strength of mediation is its flexibility and privacy. It introduces new thinking about how to proceed when a potential dispute arises. It enables the parties to resume negotiations and permits them to turn away from the history of the matter and look positively to the future.
Mediation works simply because the trained mediator, as a neutral, is in a better position than any other to win the parties’ trust, to focus attention on the problem and overcome emotional blockages providing a barrier to effective resolution. The mediator can help the parties to get out of and think outside the “legal box”.
Michael Shaw, national secretary of the NGCAA and a trained mediator, is in the unique position to undertake mediation as an alternative form of dispute resolution. This can be arranged directly, where he acts as mediator or, if the parties prefer, the NGCAA will arrange, through its affinity relationships, for qualified mediators to assist the parties in resolving these issues without the need to commence or continue expensive and often inappropriate court proceedings.
For more information please contact Michael Shaw National Secretary NGCAA on 01684 311353 admin@ngcaa.org.uk
National Golf Clubs‘ Advisory Association www.ngcaa.org.uk
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