In itself, a deft golf shot (4)
I believe the answer is:
fade
'golf shot' is the definition.
(I know that fade is a type of golf shot)
'in itself a deft' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates a hidden word.
'FADE' can be found hidden inside 'itself a deft'.
(Other definitions for fade that I've seen before include "Grow dull" , "Lose strength" , "Grow faint and disappear" , "Yellow" , "Lose brightness" .)