Future surrounding play on golf course is dispiriting

I believe the answer is:

off-putting

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'golf course is dispiriting' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'future surrounding play' is the wordplay.
'future' becomes 'offing' (offing is a kind of future).
'surrounding' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'play' becomes 'putt' (putt is a kind of play**).
'offing' going around 'putt' is 'OFF-PUTTING'.

'on' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for off-putting that I've seen before include "Disconcerting" , "Discouraging" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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