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The Downhill Lie: A Hacker's Return to a Ruinous Sport (Random House Large Print (Cloth/Paper)) | 
 enlarge | Author: Carl Hiaasen
Publisher: Random House Large Print
Category: Book
List Price: $22.00
Buy New: $13.30
You Save: $8.70 (40%)
New (27) Used (3) from $13.30
Avg. Customer Rating:  31 reviews
Sales Rank: 224578
Format: Large Print
Media: Paperback
Edition: Lrg
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 368
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 4.7 x 1.3
ISBN: 0739327879
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.352092
EAN: 9780739327876
ASIN: 0739327879
Publication Date: May 6, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New, Perfect Condition, Please allow 4-14 business days for delivery. 100% Money Back Guarantee, Over 1,000,000 customers served.
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Product Description
Originally drawn to the game by his father, Carl Hiaasen wisely quit golfing in 1973. But some ambitions refuse to die, and as the years–and memories of shanked 7-irons faded, it dawned on Carl that there might be one thing in life he could do better in middle age than he could as a youth. So gradually he ventured back to the dreaded driving range, this time as the father of a five-year-old son–and also as a grandfather.
“What possesses a man to return in midlife to a game at which he’d never excelled in his prime, and which in fact had dealt him mostly failure, angst and exasperation? Here’s why I did it: I’m one sick bastard.” And thus we have Carl’s foray into a world of baffling titanium technology, high-priced golf gurus, bizarre infomercial gimmicks and the mind-bending phenomenon of Tiger Woods; a maddening universe of hooks and slices where Carl ultimately–and foolishly–agrees to compete in a country-club tournament against players who can actually hit the ball. “That’s the secret of the sport’s infernal seduction,” he writes. “It surrenders just enough good shots to let you talk yourself out of quitting.”
Hiaasen’s chronicle of his shaky return to this bedeviling pastime and the ensuing demolition of his self-esteem–culminating with the savage 45-hole tournament–will have you rolling with laughter. Yet the bittersweet memories of playing with his own father and the glow he feels when watching his own young son belt the ball down the fairway will also touch your heart. Forget Tiger, Phil and Ernie. If you want to understand the true lure of golf, turn to Carl Hiaasen, who offers an extraordinary audiobook for the ordinary hacker.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 26 more reviews...
 I'll stick with his novels... July 17, 2008
Having enjoyed several of Hiaasen's novels, "Skin Tight" being my personal favorite, I had high hopes for this book. Although there are several funny segments, the overall tone of whininess and self-flagellation got tiresome after a while. Golf is hard & frustrating, eh? Who knew?
 Goodbye Mr. Hiaasen July 13, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I'm going to be polite and just say I did not care for this book. To say that this is the only book I have ever read that made me want to personally return it to the author with an official letter of complaint would be counterproductive and no mention of it will be made. Up to this point, I have been a huge fan. This autobiographical golf tale exposes Mr. Hiassen for the spoiled, name dropping, extrememly uninteresting, self absorbed and whining baby boomer that he apparently is. Get a fork, Carl and stick it in. You are done around my place. How dare you waste my time and money. The one star rating is a technicality. No stars wouldn't go through.
 Recommended for anyone who's had difficulty with golf July 12, 2008
Background: I'm a big time golfer, but have had insane difficulty in learning the sport and playing well. Despite having a wife that's a Librarian, I don't read much. When this book came across the shelf, she picked it up for me and said it was a must read.
I don't know anything about Carl Hiaasen and his previous books. What I do know is this book speaks to anyone who's had a remote difficulty with the game. So many of his stories were practically my autobiography with the sport of golf, despite my 30 years of age difference between myself and the author. I laughed out loud more times than I can remember during this book.
This book is the real Chicken Soup for the Golfer's Soul. I'm sure most golfers can relate with Carl's experiments, including buying new clubs, the latest gimmics, reading Dr. Bob Rotella, taking many lessons... anything to find that Holy Grail of playing great golf.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has become frustrated with golf at ANY point in time.
Golfing our way July 9, 2008
Carl Hiaasen's -Downhill Lie, is was golf is all about. The book was very enjoyable because I can relate to the Sandridge golf courses he played I especially enjoy his 12th hole experence. He certanly does not need any reviews after the onrs he's already had .
 The Downhill Lie: A Hacker's Return to a Ruinous Sport July 3, 2008
As a golfer, I could relate to the trials and tribulations of the writer as he suffered though his game but Hiassen's whining about his golf started to get boring and the book never really satisfied; it was like a sketch on Saturday Night Live that it went on too long.
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