On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, the click and clatter of mahjong tiles has become a familiar sound at Sedgefield Country Club.

For Sedgefield resident Lisa Bell Albertson, it all began with a little curiosity—and a serious case of not wanting to miss out.

“I heard about mahjong and didn’t want to miss out,” Lisa says. She and two other members signed up for a Mahjong 101 class at The Cottage on Main in High Point and were immediately hooked. A second class followed, and within days, Lisa had purchased her own set.

Soon, she approached Sedgefield Country Club about providing a place to play. What began with a handful of women has grown into regular gatherings of 12 to 16 players, with Lisa estimating that 80 to 100 women throughout the greater Sedgefield area now play mahjong.

But while the game brought them to the table, Lisa says the relationships keep them coming back.

“What I have loved about mahjong is not just the game, but the friendships with ladies I would not have met or gotten to know otherwise,” she says. “Mahjong gives us a reason to get out, show up and be present. Consistency is the secret ingredient.”

Lisa likes switching tables during an afternoon so players have a chance to get to know one another. The atmosphere is decidedly supportive: A winning hand is cause for celebration—especially when a beginner calls her first “Mahjong!”

“Being together matters. Organizing a little chaos—the tiles—matters. Laughing matters so much,” Lisa says.

Beginners shouldn’t be intimidated, either. Lisa recommends taking a Mahjong 101 class, observing a game or simply asking an experienced player for help.

“The very best way to learn is just to dive in,” she says. “Mistakes will be made, but remember, we have grace.”

Eventually, the unfamiliar tiles and rules begin to make sense. Confidence replaces hesitation, and before long, Lisa says, something else happens: The newcomer becomes the person helping someone else.

“Come join us, laugh at mistakes, celebrate each Mahjong, make new friendships, build confidence and enlarge your community,” Lisa says. “We’d love to meet you!”