My friends have been coming to Blackthorn since 1996 from Illinois, but I have been fortunate enough to make the trip the last two years. The course is one of the best kept secrets in South Bend. Blackthorn has been in top condition each time I have played! You need to be able to work the ball both right to left and left to right in order to score. The greens are true and fast, and the fairways are in great condition. Only drawback is that some of the lies in the fairways are tight and tough to hit a 60 degree wedge on. The course is reasonably priced ($75) and you must take advantage of the same day replay policy($25), because one round is not enough per visit. Staff are very friendly and can help with whatever you need. I will enjoy the annual trip to Blackthorn for years to come.

Beautiful course

Yeah, it's not out here in California

I visit South Bend at least once a year for an ND football game. And I look forward to bringing my clubs to play Blackthorn. This course could easily be a 100 plus dollar daily fee course in Southern California. Everytime I have played it, it's been in excellent condition. Only once were the greens punched, but even then they rolled true and fast. Play the back Tees, much better course. The layout is awesome going though trees and up and down slight hills and knowles. Sand is a little too crispy for my taste. It's a shame we here in Southern California do not have more courses like Blackthorn to play. Nice Facility

Customer Service

Everyone in the midwest is nice compared to the usual jerks you find out on the west coast

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Restaurant is great and neat clubhouse in the trees.

Great driving holes... have to hit the driver well, long course.

Some overly funktafied greens... Par 5 7th and Par 4 14th are HIGHLY Questionable.

Bring plenty of "Off" several Tees come out of shoots of trees and the Mosquitoes are AMAZINGLY bad in the late summer

Great track, rolling terrain uncommon to northern Indiana... wonderful piece of property. Although the course is only 5 years old it looks like it's been there for decades.

Customer Service

Nice people...

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great practice area, awesome bunkering on the course.

Course design.
Friendly staff.
Nice practice facility.

The round use to open with a practice hole, but they took it out of rotation to improve the pace of play, which leads people to believe you can't play it anymore.

I believe you can after the round - a 19th hole - but it just doesn't have the same effect as playing it before the actual 1st tee.

Location (for me) I wish it was closer to Chicago than in South Bend - and I hate Notre Dame.

This golf course is in terrific shape every time i visit - from tee to green, without exception.

There really is no such thing as an average golf hole at Blackthorn. the architect Dr. Michael Hurdzan (along with associate Bill Boswell) did a tremendous job shaping the holes into the existing countryside.

Hole #16 is a testy Par 3 that will make you wish you had brought along your camera.

#9 and #18 are also two great holes. 18 is a par 5 that finished downhill to a kidney shaped green guarded on the left by H20 and by a series of pot bunkers on the right.

Service was first rate.

Customer Service

Staff there always made me feel welcome.

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Food is second to none. Try a Blarney Burger with grilled onions and mushrooms.