A more or less lofty club (4)
I believe the answer is:
iron
'club' is the definition.
(type of golf club)
I can't explain the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for iron that I've seen before include "The metallic element plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood" , "Magnetic metallic element" , "See 14" , "rations in emergency?" , "Very robust" .)