Of Course by Malva

Puzzle explanation

The treatment applied to answers and words in clues was shortening by two or three letters, corresponding to an eagle (two under par) or an albatross (three under par) in golf. The highlighted words in the grid were ALCATRAS (an albatross) and ERNE (an eagle), both seabirds. The letters truncated from 32ac ESCH(AR), 4dn ALCA(IDE) and 20dn QUINTROO(NS) formed SARDINE. The title refers to a golf course.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Modified word Answer Explanation
Across
1   SINANTHROPUS (NORTH PRUSSIAN) * − R
11 star(ch) AMYLOSE MAY * + LOSE
12 the(te) HELOT (THE + OL(ympics)) *
14   DEPURATION DEP + RATION after (J)U(ne)
15   ART AUTRE (TAU in ART) + RE
16   LEHMANN PHENOMENAL * − POE *
17 or(der) FIAT FAT around I
19   TRIQUETRA (IT + QUARTER) *
21 art(ist) TETRA TET + RA
23   PIANO PI + (ON + A) <
26   SACQUE SAC(het) + QUE
27 Was(te) URINE BRINE with U for first letter
29   DENSITIES DENIES around IT’S *
30 Count(ry) SNIG GINS <
32   ESCHAR (fir)ES CHAR(red)
34   FACTORIES ACTOR in (FIE + S(tage))
36 pass(age) SPRUCE UP SPRUE around C + UP
37 so(uth) SORRA S + ORRA
38 who(re) REPROOF RE + PRO + OF
39 but(ton) BANDOLEONS BAND + (SOLO + E + N(othing)) *
Down
2   IMBRICES MB in IR + ICES
3 fun(gal) NYSTATIN NY + STATION − O
4   ALCAIDE ALCALDE with I for L
5   NODULATED NO + ADULT * + E + D
6 rib(bon) HEPATICA TAPE < in (HIC + A)
7 sum(ach) RHUS (thi)R(teen) + (t)H(ree) + (fo)U(r) + S(ix)
8   OERLIKON (ORIOLE + KN) *
9   COTHURNUS CO + HURT * + SUN <
10 Wish(aw) STIMES IT < in MESS *
13 Hand(le) HAFT FT after (emp)HA(tic)
18   SPATTERDASH SPAT + HARD-SET *
20   QUINTROONS QUINS around TROON
22 not(ice) EYE-SPOT EYE + SPOT
24 Lett(er) ODESSA (ES + S) in ODA
25 command(er) ASHURA (p)ASHA around UR
27   UNAPPLIED UN + APP + LIED
28   EGRESS REGRESS − R
31   IONONES ((whit)E + ONIONS) *
33 lava(bo) SCAN CAN after (Vesuviu)S
35 aster(oid) CERE CERE(s)
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