Golfers teed off Monday at the 12th annual Beardsley Zoo Charity Golf Tournament at the Brooklawn Country Club to raise money for the Beardsley Zoo.

Organizers say fundraisers like this are essential to keeping the zoo going.

Tournament chair Dr. Stuart Zarich said, "It's really a tough uphill battle with the state and the city where we get our funding so this is really immeasurable value to really the zoo and what it brings to the people here. And I think it brings more people recognition of what a valuable asset it is."

Organizers hoped to raise $50,000 from the event.