The Swampscott Golf Tournament will kick off on Monday, May 12 in an effort to fund the fireworks for the Fourth of July, which is necessary as budget cuts continue. 

The tournament has been a Swampscott tradition for over 20 years, predating Recreation Director Danielle Strauss. Proceeds will fund fireworks for the town’s July 4 celebration, which will be held a day early this year.

The golf tournament will take place at Tedesco Country Club and start at 1 p.m. The teams, which can be made up of four players, will play in a best ball format, meaning each player plays their own ball, and the best individual score on each hole counts.

This year’s tournament is at full capacity with 128 golfers playing 18 holes, according to Strauss. 

An award ceremony will recognize the top three teams.

After the tournament, participants and guests are invited to join a barbecue dinner while participating in raffles, which include gift cards from various local businesses.

The raffle alone is able to bring in about $1,000, according to Strauss. 

“They keep cutting our budget for Fourth of July,” Strauss said. “We have to find ways of funding it.”

The town had budgeted about $10,000 for the July 4 event in the past, but that amount may decrease depending on approval at this month’s Town Meeting.

“The cost of Fourth of July is $40,000,” Strauss said. “There’s a big gap in what we actually need in order to have Fourth of July.”

The golf tournament is the only fundraiser that directly gives to the Fourth of July festivities, Strauss said. 

“I think people just take it for granted that it’s just going to happen, but it takes fundraising for it to happen,” Strauss said. “It is a lot.”