Gary Larson & Amy Ensz’s Wall Street Journal crossword, “Playing a Round”—Jim P’s assessment

Theme solutions include acquainted phrases whose first phrases may have one thing to do with golf. The second phrases additionally change which means from the unique phrase, thus every clue will get the wacky therapy.

Wall St Journal crossword answer · “Playing a Round” · Gary Larson & Amy Ensz · Wed., 10.12.22

• 17a. [Fuddy-duddy on the golf course?] TEE SQUARE. I feel I’ve to name foul on this one proper off the bat (is that too many sports activities metaphors?). A T-square is formed just like the letter T, therefore the title. No one would write it TEE SQUARE. Plus, there’s a TEE-HEE within the grid as properly.
• 27a. [Insult on the golf course?] ROUGH CUT.
• 37a. [Mild expletive on the golf course?] TRAP SHOOT. I actually wished this to be crapshoot which googles so a lot better, however clearly doesn’t match the theme.
• 52a. [Joker on the golf course?] HOLE CARD.
• 62a. [Liquid courage on a golf course?] GREEN BELT. I like this one greatest.

Not a nasty theme. I do just like the wordplay. But that first one irked me, particularly when “teetotaler” (Person doing sums on the golf course?) is on the market. (GREENBELT might be pluralized to compensate.) And TRAP SHOOT sounds bizarre as I count on most individuals concerned with the game would use the phrase “trap shooting.”

Similar to yesterday, we now have nothing longer than a 7 within the fill, however there are nonetheless some highlights: “I SEE NOW,” EARACHE, WHIPPET, EPHESUS, CHOLERA, plus QUAKER, TEE-HEE, MOSAIC, and PRY BAR. Needed all of the crossings for Irish author Seán O’CASEY [“The Plough and the Stars” playwright] in addition to CROCKED [Blotto].

Clues of be aware:

• 29a. [Blotto]. CROCKED. New to me, however it googles equally to “blotto.”
• 57a. [Plants in an Athol Fugard play title]. ALOES. “A Lesson from ALOES” is a 1978 by the South African author (all of which is new to me). In the play, the hardiness of the succulent is used as a metaphor to replicate upon life underneath apartheid.
• 2nd. [Guinness, for one]. ALE. Serendipity in motion: On seeing the clue, I instantly began writing “Alec.” When I spotted the title was too lengthy, I discovered I obtained the reply right anyway.
• 10d. [Maxwell competitor]. REO. I feel we’re speaking old-timey automobiles right here.
• 11d. [Otalgia]. EARACHE. In hindsight, I can see the phrase originates from the Greek oto (ear) and algia (ache).

3.25 stars.