Driving along the highway, a Chinese friend of mine commented on how well suited the land was for a golf course. Now, this is a small town guy, and I would bet good money he has never even swung a golf club. But, to give him credit, he was right.
We talked about the high expense of golf, the equipment, the green fees, the clothes, but where we ended up is the benefits that come from golf. For many, not only is golf a chance to relax, but it is the meeting room in which the most important deals are made or best plans for the future are forged.
Sure, China is catching on to golf, and in the future golf may take the prominent place it has in other regions around the world. Where is China's informal board room for now though?
My friend commented that golf for the West was much like cards for his town. "If I need to build relationships with folks, casually talk about work, or just prepare for potential partnerships, I have to play cards."
That was actually new to me. Sure, I see folks playing cards here locally, but had not thought of the relationship building. In other places I have lived, Mahjong is the thing. But this place of meeting does not have to be a game. Food works for many.
Really, this is all to say that relationship building and working on business connections are just as varied in China as in the rest of the world. In some circumstances, learning enough Mahjong or golf to get along is not a bad idea. Then again, having a common hobby, not taken up for business reasons but truly enjoyed, is a powerful tie.
