After golf, can I ever set score? (9)
I believe the answer is:
grievance
'score?' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'after golf can i ever set' is the wordplay.
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'golf' becomes 'g' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'set' indicates an anagram (instruction to set the letters).
'can'+'i'+'ever'='caniever'
'caniever' with letters rearranged gives 'rievance'.
'g' next to 'rievance' is 'GRIEVANCE'.
(Other definitions for grievance that I've seen before include "gripe" , "Item causing resentment" , "beef" , "Bad feeling" , "Complaint" .)