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

Presented by Phyllis Armstrong in memory of Eugene McGregor. School Library Journal: Hiaasen, the Miami Heraldcolumnist and author of some hilarious fiction (e.g., Striptease, Skinny Dip), shares his renewed interest in golf in this departure onto the green. He recounts how easy it is to get sucked into the sport, even when trying not to. Better than most, he points out how golfers tend to hope for the quick fix, be it via an instructional tip, new equipment, or even a talisman. What really comes through is how Hiaasen thoroughly and rationally studies an issue such as dimples on a golf ball, realizes that after a certain point the discussion is largely irrelevant, and then buys into the hype anyway. In this, he speaks volumes for all golfers. Written as a diary, Hiaasen's effort can be compared with Turk Pipkin's The Old Man and the Teeand Tom Coyne's Paper Tiger. For sheer entertainment, The Downhill Lieis a very good read. The author's fame and fans may drive demand.