Blackthorn is located at the southeast corner of the Indiana Tollway and US 31 just northwest of the airport in South Bend.

The golf course is a parkland layout with a blend of broad and narrow, tree-lined, contoured fairways bordered by tall prairie grasses. There's an abundance and variety of sand bunkers, in addition to wetlands and ponds as hazards at the fairway landing zones and greens. It was designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan and stretches to 7,136 yards from the tips, 74.6/136 course/slope ratings, with three shorter tee boxes.