Container in good colour, smooth surface (7,5)
I believe the answer is:
bowling green
'smooth surface' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both locations as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'container in good colour' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'container' could be 'bowl' (bowl is a kind of container) and 'bowl' is found in the answer.
'in' is within the answer.
'good' could be 'g' (abbreviation) and 'g' is found in the answer.
'colour' could be 'green' (green is a kind of colour) and 'green' is present in the answer.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for bowling green that I've seen before include "Where one finds woods" , "Lawn for playing on" , "Sporting area" .)