Reputations of understudies taking up golf (9)

I believe the answer is:

standings

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'reputations' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both states of affairs as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'understudies taking up golf' is the wordplay.
'understudies' becomes 'standins' (I've seen this before).
'taking' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'up golf' becomes 'g' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.. I am not sure about the 'up' bit.**).
'standins' placed around 'g' is 'STANDINGS'.

'of' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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