Rating  - Disappointing
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'.
Rating - Love Carl, hate this book
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.
Rating  - Golf Cart Full of Laughs
Thirty-two years after giving up the game of golf, Carl Hiaasen finds himself playing golf during his free time from writing an article for Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue. He plays well enough that when he returns home to Florida, he buys a set of second hand clubs. Thus begins a hilarious odyssey over 577 days. The Downhill Lie: A Hacker's Return to a Ruinous Sport, by Carl Hiaasen is an excellent book, whether you are familiar with Hiaasen's fiction or the game of golf. In any event, you will probably enjoy this book.
I was disappointed by Hiaasen's last piece of fiction, Nature Girl. With this book, he redeems himself. He is self-effacing, neurotic, and willing to try anything that the Golf Channel or a golf magazine will pitch. That latter point brings some of the funniest parts of the book, as he tries relaxation pills, necklaces, and items to help your swing. Time and time again, he is told to stop reading golf magazines, only to fall for the lure of quick solutions to his never-ending problems within the pages of said magazines. Much like the rest of us. Hiaasen writes about his experiences with the World Golf Village and the Leadbetter Golf Academy. Both of those destinations are high on the list of training facilities for hackers and Hiaasen gets a lesson from each. The commentary is pure Hiaasen.
This book restored my faith in Carl Hiaasen. On the surface, this book is about one man's return to golf. But throughout, you are presented with Hiaasen's trademark prose concerning Florida; the environment, rampant development, and politicians. There is also his need to reconnect with deceased father (an avid golfer). And as his golfing days march onward, his family starts to golf, which adds another layer of complexity to Carl's relationship with them, golf, and the reader. More than just a book on golf, this is Hiaasen at the top of his game. Even though his golf scores don't show it.
Rating - Bad Mojo
If you are an average golfer avoid this book like the plague. It is bad mojo, terrible karma, and a jinx. Hiaasen's efforts to take his game to the next level are hilarious and his usual observations on Florida politics and the environment just add to the fun. There is so much in the book that the hacker can relate to that it begins to work on your mind. After finishing the book I went out and shot eight strokes above my already feeble average following each occasional par with a triple bogey and adding new levels of frustration to my putrid game. I give Hiaasen credit for making me laugh, then ruining my day. It's the only golf instruction book or article that has ever affected my score.
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