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

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.

Except for his children's books, I've read all of Hiaasen's novels, including the three he co-wrote with Montalbano. I'm a fan.

This is the first time one of his books disappointed me. I found 'The Downhill Lie' dull and uninteresting, full of very predictable 'golf torture' stories, and a far cry from the best of Hiaasen, e.g., the laugh-out-loud 'Sick Puppy'.

I've read everything He has ever written and thoughly enjoyed them all. But this book was unreadable, after just 20 pages I put it down and won't ever pick it up again. There is no story line, just his recollections of taking up golf again. DON'T buy it, even if you golf it's terrible.