Network needing golf free? (4)
I believe the answer is:
grid
'network' is the definition.
(grid is a kind of network)
'golf free?' is the wordplay.
'golf' becomes 'g' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'free?' becomes 'rid' ('rid' can be a synonym of 'free'**).
'g'+'rid'='GRID'
'needing' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for grid that I've seen before include "Electricity network" , "Network of horizontal andvertical lines" , "Matrix" , "This crossword structure" , "Power distribution network" .)