Crossword Genius

Encouraging shot -- golfer isn't losing length (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

fostering

'encouraging' is the definition.
(fostering is a kind of encouraging)

'shot golfer isn't losing length' is the wordplay.
'shot' is an anagram indicator.
'losing' suggests deleting specific letters.
'length' becomes 'l' (abbreviation in geometry).
'golfer'+'isnt'='golferisnt'
'golferisnt' with 'l' removed is 'goferisnt'.
'goferisnt' is an anagram of 'FOSTERING'.

(Another definition for fostering that I've seen is " Looking after".)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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