Crossword Genius

Golf fanatics retiring hurt (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

stung

'hurt' is the definition.
(sting can mean to hurt)

'golf fanatics retiring' is the wordplay.
'golf' becomes 'g' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'fanatics' becomes 'nuts' (nut can mean an enthusiast or fanatic).
'retiring' is a reversal indicator.
'g'+'nuts'='gnuts'
'gnuts' written backwards gives 'STUNG'.

(Other definitions for stung that I've seen before include "cheated" , "Attacked by, eg, a bee" , "Attacked by, eg, a wasp" , "piqued" , "Bitten, by a bee say" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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