Constructor: Jill Denny and Jeff Chen
Relative difficulty: Easy
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THEME: PAR FOR THE COURSE (53A: Average … or a literal hint to 17-, 26- and 42-Across)— well-know phrases containing words that are slang for golf scores; instead of the word, we get the golf score, represented literally (i.e. as a number that is situated over or under PAR in the grid)
Theme answers:
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Feels like a theme type I've seen before, but I could very easily be imagining that. It's nicely executed, at any rate. The grid has been skillfully constructed to isolate problem areas, minimize theme-density damage, and maximize smoothness. This is why it's a bit unorthodox-looking, with those low-lying, long NW and SE corners, and totally walled-off E and W parts. Gotta contain and manage the "over PAR" parts. Result: the fill in this is highly untortured. Not an obscurity in sight. Almost *too* over-the-plate. Well done. My only significant criticism is that … do people say "bogeyman"? I see that it's spelled that way in wikipedia's primary entry for the term, but I have only ever heard a pronunciation like "boogie." This meant that the golf-term replacement for THE ONE MAN just didn't land. Aurally speaking. For me. The boogeyman is gonna get you. The bogeyman is going to get you only if you fail to sink that putt.
Bullets:
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
Relative difficulty: Easy
THEME: PAR FOR THE COURSE (53A: Average … or a literal hint to 17-, 26- and 42-Across)— well-know phrases containing words that are slang for golf scores; instead of the word, we get the golf score, represented literally (i.e. as a number that is situated over or under PAR in the grid)
Theme answers:
- THE TWO HAS LANDED ("TWO" is under the "PAR" in CAR PARTS) (because an "eagle" is two under par)
- THE ONE MAN ("ONE" is over the "PAR" in POOL PARTY) (because a "bogey" is one over par)
- "BYE BYE, ONE" ("ONE" is under the "PAR" in WATER PARK) (because a "birdie" is one under par)
Jule Styne (/ˈdʒuːli staɪn/; December 31, 1905 – September 20, 1994) was an English-born American songwriter especially famous for a series of Broadway musicals, which include several very well known and frequently revived shows.Among his most enduring songs is "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!", cowritten with Sammy Cahn in 1945. (wikipedia)
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Bullets:
- 36A: Part of a spanish explorer's name (DE LEON)— as in PONCE. This took me too long. I kept trying to think of a name that was on the tip of my tongue, but when I got it … it was DE GAMA :(
- 32D: Wallop (PASTE)— Had the "P" and went with the obvious-yet-wrong answer.
- 56D: New Year's ___ (EVE)— semi-topical!
- 34D: Canned food made by Nestlé (ALPO) — nice attempt at misdirection there, w/ Nestlé really making you think human food.
Hope you survived New Year's Eve and are chock full of hope and resolutions. Thanks for your readership and support.