The Downhill Lie: A Hacker's Return to a Ruinous Sport

Carl Hiaasen is one of the funniest writers ever. Given that both he and Dave Barry are South Floridians, one wonders if there's not something in the water that warped their DNA in a gut-splitting way. It's not possible to read "Lucky You" without constantly laughing, and marvelling at his ability to create weirder-than-life (or are they?) characters who parade through highly improbable (or are they?) sequences of events and relationships. He is also able to shift gears and write a masterpiece like "Hoot".

Having thoroughly enjoyed each of these, and a few others of his works, and having taken up golf late in life, I bought "Downhill Lie" looking forward to seeing myself skewered in it and having some good laughs.....but that was not to be. This book is a dreary explication of a diary he kept, and has all the earmarks of something written to pay the rent.

It's not a bad book, just dull. His passionate concern over what is happening to Florida comes through loud and clear. His description of "The Villages", the place shown over and over again on the Golf Channel ads, brings home the reality of what a monstrous overdevelopment it is, and the dirty little secret that "free golf for life" does NOT include the good courses at The Villages, only the ho-hum courses.

RECOMMENDATION: It's a decent read, but save it for when you've read every other book on your list. Read it at a library; buy it only if you are insistent on owning every book in the Hiaasen canon, and then only when it's on the books-for-a-buck remainder table.

This is a great book - for golfers...It's amazing to me how much of what Carl Hiaasen writes in his book that I can relate to. I'm a 53 year old "lady" golfer who has only been playing a little over 3 years. I have thought and said some of the very same things Carl complains about. Very enjoyable and laugh out loud reading...

I am a HUGE fan of Carl Hiassen. And I love to golf (or try to). This semi-diary of his return to golf unfortunately did not bring the same humor and spice that his novels provide. I'll read anything Hiassen writes so I had to buy this. But in the future I may stick to his novels. I'm afraid this book is his Mulligan.

I have played the game 65 years and read a lot of golf themed books but this one is about as weak as any I have read.It think the theme was to link his young son to golf, with the author in the middle, just as he was linked to his father. Too many @8x8! words with no purpose.

Save your money.

I have to admit at the outset that I am a huge Hiassen fan. I await each new book anxiously, and am rarely disappointed.
As a golfer for over thirty years, I found Carl's new book to be a delightful read. I actually laughed out loud on several occasions, and certainly understood the struggles he had with the ancient game. I would recommend this book to all golfers, and all Carl fans. If one is neither, then it is less likely to produce laughter or sympathy.
I have returned to the game after two surgeries, and his struggles are my struggles. I was a strong 7 handicap at one time, but my game is now much like Carl's. The occasional glorious shot brings me back, even with the double bogies and struggles to break 90. Similarly, I can hardly wait for each new Hiassen book, only there are no double bogies: only enjoyable reading.