CLEVER CROSSWORD CLUES VI

The three answer pairs below are deliberately positioned to suggest the theme of this puzzle. What is the theme?

RAMPART
PIONEER

DEPARTMENT
ICE CREAM CONE

PARTNER
LONELY

HINT:
Look for hidden words in both the top and bottom answers of each pair.

Answer:

The theme is WATCH THE BIRDIE.

The top word in each answer pair contains the word PAR, and the bottom answers contain the word ONE. This leads to ONE UNDER PAR - which is a BIRDIE in golf. 

Credit: LA Times Crossword
June 14, 2009
Will Nediger
WATCH THE BIRDIE