London, 16 July 2025. Tourism Ireland has joined forces with family-owned, Northern Ireland ice cream brand Morelli’s, to create an unusual new ice cream flavour to mark The Open returning to Portrush this summer.

Available across its north coast shops this July and August, the novel new ice cream is flavoured simply as ‘Golf’. A scoop of ice cream sitting on a cone, beautifully replicates a golf ball sitting on a tee.

Flavour-wise, much thought and debate went into how to encapsulate the sport on the tastebuds, and both brands believe they have found the perfect combination to sum up the sport and essence of the north coast…

The flavour: Morelli’s have combined Wild Italian Mint with their championship winning ‘Double Cream Vanilla’ Base (Crowned Champion of Champions at the 2025 National Ice Cream competitions). This replicates the freshest air similar to that of which a golfer would breathe as they stood taking in the spectacular views from the 5th hole at Royal Portrush.

To represent the finely manicured fairways, a Ceremonial Grade Matcha tea has been added, and when combined with the Mint base, gives a lovely, fragrant aroma of cut grass.

A further nod to the North Coast can be found with a ripple of Sea Buckthorn flavoured sauce. Sea Buckthorn grows abundantly in the rough at Royal Portrush and along the coastline, adding another link to the famous course.

Morelli’s has a long history of making ice cream, which began when Peter Morelli, one of nine brothers who left their Italian homeland by foot in the early 1900’s in search of work, ended up setting up a café in Coleraine, famous for its fish and chips and home-made ice-cream from a recipe passed down by his father, Barbato. Fast forward 115 years and the Morelli family are still making award-winning ice cream across Northern Ireland. With a knack for creating both classic and unusual yet always delicious flavours Morelli’s were the perfect brand to conjure up the taste of golf in a scoop.

The new ‘Golf’ ice cream will be available at Morelli’s Portrush, Portstewart & Ballycastle Stores during July and August 2025.

The Morelli’s family commented, ‘When we were given the brief ‘What does Golf taste like’, we were certainly faced with a challenge, but we love a challenge at Morelli’s. We think this unique flavour perfectly encapsulates the sport in an ice cream and we can’t wait for everyone to try it’.

Judith Cassidy Acting Head of Great Britain, Tourism Ireland: “The global spotlight will be on Portrush and Northern Ireland this July as the 153rd Open takes place at Royal Portrush Golf Club, and we wanted to do something fun and light-hearted to celebrate the golf, whilst also shining a light on Northern Ireland’s seaside culture and love of ice cream or a “poke” as some of the locals would call it. Morelli’s are an absolutely stalwart of the ice cream scene in Northern Ireland so were the perfect brand to create the flavour. We’re hoping it might stir up some debate amongst golfers on what golf could taste like? And also hoping Rory and Shane might pop in for a scoop!”

All eyes are set to be on Portrush this weekend, with a sold-out crowd of 278,000 spectators expected to attend The 153rd Open and an estimated 100 million viewers able to watch play in over 190 countries. Home-grown talent Rory McIIroy will be competing for the Claret Jug and is stirring up “Rory Fever” in the local area with hotel packages, murals, renamed shops and celebrations to mark the local sporting hero’s participation. In terms of economic impact, the tournament is expected to deliver a combined economic and media benefit of more than £231 million to Northern Ireland.

-ENDS-

ABOUT TOURISM IRELAND

Tourism Ireland is responsible for marketing the island of Ireland overseas as a leading holiday destination.

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