Crossword Genius

Peer that goes without golf throughout a number of months (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

yearlong

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'throughout a number of months' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'peer that goes without golf' is the wordplay.
'peer' becomes 'earl' (earl is a kind of peer).
'that' becomes 'yon' (archaic term meaning 'that').
'goes without' is an insertion indicator.
'golf' becomes 'g' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'earl' going within 'yon' is 'yearlon'.
'yearlon'+'g'='YEARLONG'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for yearlong that I've seen before include "Lasting twelve months" , "lasting four seasons" , "Over whole 12 months" , "all through 1984, for example" , "over a period of time" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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