Level recreation area removing back section (3)
I believe the answer is:
par
'level' is the definition.
(average level on a golf course)
'recreation area removing back section' is the wordplay.
'recreation area' becomes 'park' (a park is an area for recreation).
'removing back section' means to remove the last letter.
'park' with its final letter taken off is 'PAR'.
(Other definitions for par that I've seen before include "Expected number of strokes for hole (golf)" , "Normal number of strokes for a hole at golf" , "What is normal - . . . for the course" , "Average - equality" , "Face value; equal standing" .)