International Sports Celebs Golf In Fundraiser for World's Oldest Basketball Court In St. Stephen

Sports celebrities from across North America including high profile NBA and Major League Baseball stars were in Charlotte County this past weekend for a golf tournament fundraiser benefiting the World's Oldest Basketball Court in St. Stephen. Before hitting the greens, celebs checked out the historic court in the former YMCA on King Street where Lyman Archibald famously first brought the game to the area in 1893 after apprenticing with the founder of the sport, Canadian James Naismith.

"When you think of what has transpired on this court, if you're a basketball lover, you can't appreciate it anymore," said sportscaster Sherman Hamilton while visiting the court for the first time on August 5, 2022. "This is an amazing piece of our Canadian basketball history." 

After taking in sports history in St. Stephen, celebs set out to make history at the Algonquin Golf Course joining foursomes for the inaugural golf tournament known as "The Archie," fittingly named after Archibald.
"This is a spectacular golf course, and this will not be my last trip here," said sportscaster Paul Jones who flew in from Toronto to play in the tournament.

Tom Liston, who is a member of the non-profit group Canada First Basketball inc. behind the court's restoration journey, was the key organizer of the golf tournament and played an integral role in the number of big sports names who travelled to Charlotte County for the fundraiser.

"Part of what this year's tournament is about is awareness: bringing people to this part of the world to experience the court and to learn about the history, and then their voices will amplify the message that this historic court and piece of basketball history is here in Charlotte County," said Liston.

Local sports personality Evan McFarlane was on the winning team alongside Harry, Justin and Roly Sappier and Jared Paul who took home the first-ever Archie. The trophy itself will remain on display at the Algonquin until the tournament is played again next year.

The golf tournament combined with an auction and a gala dinner emceed by Maestro Fresh Wes at the Algonquin grossed over $75,000 in support of the World's Oldest Basketball Court. The long-term goal is to turn the world's oldest basketball court into both a museum and experiential basketball attraction for fans of the sport of all ages from all over the world.