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.