About Us

Welcome to Gold Coast Mahjong Club—a social space where timeless tradition meets modern connection. Whether you're brand new or already calling craks and bams, we make it easy and fun to learn the game and make new friends in the process.

About Gold Coast Mahjong Club

Gold Coast Mahjong Club brings people together across Fairfield County through the fun, strategy, and community of American Mahjong. From beginner lessons to social events, we make the game approachable, engaging, and unforgettable, creating meaningful connections while supporting local businesses and organizations.

We take a modern approach to a classic game, blending tradition with today’s social and community spirit. Whether you’re brand new to mahjong or already a player, our goal is to make every session welcoming, lively, and memorable.

Gold Coast Mahjong Club also partners with professional and social organizations to host events, offers private lessons and parties, and brings mahjong to the community through pop-up events at restaurants and venues. We will travel to bring mahjong to groups beyond Fairfield County and will be launching the Golden Tiles Mahjong League this winter, a fun and competitive way for players to grow their skills and connect with others.

At Gold Coast Mahjong Club, everyone is welcome. Our community is built on connection, laughter, and the joy of play, and we can’t wait to welcome you to the table.

Instructor Bios

Learn more about our teachers!

Emily Brown

Emily Brown

Co-Founder

Emily was born and raised on the Gold Coast of CT, and now lives in Darien with her husband and two kids.

Mahjong quickly became a passion of hers, and teaching the game is just as fun as playing. Her number-sense and positive, welcoming personality endear her to all her students.

Beyond mahjong, Emily captains a USTA tennis team and is the president of Darien Softball.

Jamie Dalton

Jamie Dalton

Co-Founder

Jamie has lived in Darien, CT since 2018 with her husband and two young children. She was introduced to mahjong through her 101-year-old Chinese grandmother, Jamie quickly developed a deep love for the game and felt a strong connection to its heritage.

Beyond mahjong, Jamie enjoys reading, needlepoint, walking with friends and her dog, relaxing at the beach, and spending time with her family.

Claire Mohamed

Claire Mohamed

Instructor

Our California girl, Claire, moved to CT in 2022 after living all over the country (living in Colorado, Texas, Indiana, and NYC) before settling down in and falling in love with our amazing community. 

Claire was drawn to mahjong for its unique combination of being social & cerebral.She loves to see the joy it brings other women and their friends! 

When she is not teaching, Claire can be found driving her 5 kids all over town in her very own Uber XL and learning how to be a cat mom to her two new kittens!

Bethany Walsh

Bethany Walsh

Instructor

Bethany grew up in New Hampshire and went to college in CT. She has lived in Boston, NYC and moved to Darien in 2017 where she lives with her husband and son. 

After learning Mahjong from her friend Jamie, she quickly developed a love for the game and the community that came with it. She began helping friends get into the game and even taught her 5 year old son a version before joining the GCMC team. 

Outside of Mahj, Bethany loves tennis, the beach and spending time with her family. 

Cathy Schulz

Cathy Schulz

Instructor

Cathy grew up in Darien and moved back in 2015. She learned how to play Mahjong last spring, and after her very first lesson, she was hooked!

She loves how social the game is, it brings her together with friends, friends of friends, and family in a lighthearted and meaningful way. It’s community-building at its core - the perfect mix of luck, chance, and skill. And no matter who wins, everyone is genuinely happy for them!

When Cathy is not playing Mahjong, you’ll find her on the tennis court, skiing or sailing, at Equinox early in the morning, out to lunch or dinner with friends, or driving her kids all over Fairfield and Westchester County!