[Aco-]

I prefer my method of "meetup golf", it's a little different than this one.

In my version of 'meetup golf' you basically go play golf, meet people who enjoy golf while doing so, ask them what they do for work, and 1/2 the time they are in tech or some form of tech (YMMV depending on where you live & play golf). At the end of the round you shake their hand and say "It was nice meeting you. Hey, listen, if you ever want to play golf in the future or need anything at all feel free to contact me" -- hand them your business card, 9 times out of 10 they will connect on linkedin or shoot an email thereafter.

You now have more in common with them than just your profession, you also share a hobby. Also consider there is a 19th hole in golf. This is a far better way to meet, befriend, and build a network that holds some weight.

[rdouble]

I wonder where you live. Golf is very unpopular with most tech people I know.

[Aco-]

NY/NJ, I didn't say they were very young :P

[speeder]

Unfortunately that only works when you live in a place where people do play golf, and where playing golf does not cost a year of your income...

[TreyS]

Most big cities in the U.S. have quality public courses that aren't horribly expensive. Near NYC, there's Bethpage (recently hosted U.S. Open) http://nysparks.com/golf-courses/11/fees-rates.aspx and near SF there's TPC Harding Park (http://www.tpc.com/tpc.asp?id=7&page=778 reasonably priced for SF residents). But yes joining a country club would be a year of your income.

Disclaimer: Never played either just heard positive things about both.

Edit: U.S. cities (no idea about elsewhere)

[speeder]

I am from Brazil, not the sort of the country where Golf is popular...

The only persons I knew that used to play it, were really, really rich (ie: have more than 10 million USD or something like that, that to a brazillian is absurd, I think 10 million USD puts you into the top half percent or something like that, since earning 2k USD/mo already puts you into top 5%)

EDIT: Just checked the Green Fee on the golf course that exists on my city, it is frigging 300 USD, it is almost a month mininum wage.

[c0nsumer]

This also works really well with cycling group rides.

[hkmurakami]

Yup, I actually organize rides where I get friends and friends of friends to tag along, and it ends up being a natural way to make new friends and so called "network".

Hiking works great too, and there are lots of great hiking routes along the purissima hills in the SF Peninsula.

[c0nsumer]

I do similar things, but also as part of getting new people into mountain biking and building new, legal, open-to-bikes trails. It's pretty amazing the diversity of people that I've ended up friends and acquaintances with; people who I wouldn't hesitate to call up (or hesitate if they called me) looking for some professional help.

[fellars]

Let me know if you're ever in utah and want to play a round.

[Aco-]

Sure thing, thought I haven't had a reason to go to Utah before, but you never know

[Ecio78]

I think this is a good reason: http://www.utah.com/nationalparks/bryce.htm I've been there two years ago during my honeymoon and I found it beautiful (probably the best park I visited - together with Yosemite - in my west coast fly & drive tour)