Elbow’s bare, broken by golf (5)
I believe the answer is:
nudge
'elbow's' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'bare broken by golf' is the wordplay.
'bare' becomes 'nude' (synonyms).
'broken by' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters break into the word).
'golf' becomes 'g' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'nude' enclosing 'g' is 'NUDGE'.
(Other definitions for nudge that I've seen before include "Jostle" , "Push with the elbow" , "suggestive move" , "Remind (with the elbow?)" , "Gentle push" .)