Even the non-golfers of the world are familiar with the shape of a golf ball, like that pictured above, and have probably wondered why its surface is covered with small indentations called dimples.
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Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Puzzle by Victor Fleming, edited by Will Shortz
Golf is an odd diversion -- a bit like crossword puzzles… Intended to be played in solitude, the participant cannot help getting others involved in some way or form. In golf, it’s the caddy, the viewers on the sidelines, the announcer eschewing LOQUACITY (10D. Talkativeness) with a hush. In the world of crosswords, one may communicate with other humans on occasion with a query of etymology on the assumption that two heads are better than one. However, when in error in either activity, one can only say it’s MYMISTAKE (35D. “I can’t blame anyone else”)!
I’ve played miniature golf once, seen newsreels of presidents and celebrities teeing off, snippets of PGA tournaments, that Martin & Lewis movie, and Tiger Woods to NOEND (27A. Ad infinitum). Playing golf is not on my bucket list, and I doubt I have the SKILL (54D. Dexterity) -- I feel it utilizes too much real estate, and although it does preserve the outskirts of town for the birds, those night lights ruin star-gazing something fierce!
Three inter-related entries, all clued as Enjoying an outing, of sorts, ONTHEGOLFCOURSE (20.); PLAYINGEIGHTEEN (39.); and HITTINGTHELINKS (56.) run the full 15 squares across the puzzle, letting the rest of the crossword fall where it may.
Six-letter entries include LOGGER (5D. Paul Bunyan, e.g.); GOSOFT (9D. Treat leniently, with “on”); ALINED (46D. Trued up); WRENCH (48D. Twist badly); ATCOST (28A. For no profit); RADIAL (45A. Michelin offering); VISINE (23A. “Gets the red out“ sloganeer); and REVISE (51A Edit).
Five letter: GLARE (9A. Icy look); OOZES (16A. Moves like sludge); SQUAT (19A. Catcher’s position); SELMA (32A. Sister of Marge Simpson); EYING (44A. Checking out); ASIAN (61A. Like wild tigers); STAKE (64A. Garden plant support); HOSED (67A. Cheated, slangily); YAKOV (1D. Comic Smirnoff); IRANI (2D. Tehran denizen); PITTS (3D. Actress ZaSu); SAYHI (4D. Greet cordially); JAFFA (8D. Port of Israel); China’s Zhou ENLAI (21D.); CLANG (22D. Trolley sound); NYLON (40D. Fishing line material); HEGEL (41D. Georg who wrote “The Philosophy of Right”); EGRET (50D. Everglades wader); VILLA (52D. Home overlooking the sea, maybe); INOIL (53D. How some tuna is packed); ESSAY (55D. Lamb or Bacon piece).
Four letter: YIPS (1A. Puppies’ plaints); LEEJ (5A. Cobb of “12 Angry Men”); ARIA (14A. Oratorio highlight); OBLA (15A. Di or da preceder in a Beatles song); “What KATY Did” (classic children’s book with a punny title) (17A.); GRAF Spee (old German warship); ALFA (24A. Italian auto, for short); Scientology founder LRON Hubbard (25A.) and LORN (36A. Forsaken); Get INTO the habit (38A.); ALUM (42A. Homecoming figure, for short); YANG (43A. Yin’s counterpart); LOIS (63A. Hi Flagston's wife, in the comics); DAWG (47A. Flagston family pet); SLOE (49A. Gin flavoring); RAIN (62A. Drought relief); EXEC (65A. One hired by a corp. board); LILA (66A. McCann of country music); TISH (68A. One of “The Addams Family,” informally); ALLY (69A. Comrade in arms); EBRO (6D. River of Spain); ELAL (7D. Mideast airline); France’s Cote d’AZUR (11D.); REAS (12D. Actor Stephen and kin); ESTE (13A. Renaissance family name); OLGA (26D. Gymnast Korbut); “The ONEI Love” (R.E.M. hit) (29D.); STEN (30D. British W.W. II-era gun); TONG (31D. Chinatown gang); SPAR (32D. Exchange jabs); ELLA (33D. Former Connecticut governor Grasso); LAUD (34D. Speak well of); RIGA (37D. Latvia’s capital); HASH browns (diner fare) (56D.); ISTO (57D. Analogy part); TIAS (58D. Havana aunts); TAXI (59D. Kind of stand); HIES (60D. Doesn’t dally).
Three-letter entries: "PAR"!
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Click on image to enlarge.
Puzzle available on the internet at
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