A Guide To Golf In The Bend

Playing golf courses in South Bend and Mishawaka means choosing from championship-caliber options. Whatever kind of course you’re looking for, you’ll find it here. Take a look at your options.

Blackthorn Golf Club

Golf Digest ranked Blackthorn as the fourth-best new public golf course upon its opening. It remains one of the best South Bend golf courses and a premier public track in Northern Indiana with its rolling, wooded terrain. The course is a par 72 and plays up to 7,136 yards. Lush fairways are complemented by bent grass greens and bordered by natural settings — prairie grasses, wetlands and ponds.

Burke Golf Course

Visitors to the University of Notre Dame are sure to catch a glimpse of this course. Burke Golf Course is at the southwest corner of campus with views of the Golden Dome and Basilica as players stroll the fairways. Originally designed as an 18-hole course in 1929, it now plays as a par 35 over nine holes.

Eberhart-Petro Golf Course

Looking for some natural challenges?

Eberhart-Petro Golf Course is the only course in The Bend that requires players to deal with the St. Joseph River (seen below from an aerial view). There are four river crossings at this Mishawaka gem. Perhaps the most scenic of those is from the tee box on the 18^th hole, which offers an elevated view of the river below and fairway beyond.

Elbel Park Golf Course

One of three courses operated by the City of South Bend, Elbel Golf Course blends the natural landscape of our area with golf better than most courses. Bent grass greens and bluegrass fairways on the par 72 course give way to wooded areas and plenty of water, including Mud Lake.

MORE INFO: Book a Tee Time at Elbel Park

Erskine Park Golf Course

Opened in 1925, Erskine Park has the feel of a city course. The par-70 plays to just over 6,000 yards with tree-lined fairways. No. 10 might be the signature hole — a 603-yard par 5 that requires distance and accuracy on the first and second shots for a chance at par or better.

Juday Creek Golf Course

Located conveniently off the Indiana Toll Road in Granger, Juday Creek Golf Course might not have the St. Joseph River but is far from a boring patch of land. Water is in play on 13 of the 18 holes, a layout that plays to nearly 7,000 yards and a par 72.

Studebaker Golf Course

Built in 1919, this 9-hole course is the oldest in South Bend. It’s perfect for children, beginners or anyone looking for a casual round playing mostly shorter holes. There are two par 4s. Everything else is a par 3. Bowman Creek runs along the west side of the course.

Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame

Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame is a Coore and Crenshaw design located on the north side of Notre Dame’s campus. Golf Magazine ranks it No. 70 on its list of top 100 courses you can play in the United States. The course sprawls over about 250 acres and is complemented by the views, which include the Golden Dome off in the distance.

Notre Dame’s men’s and women’s golf teams call Warren home, as did the 2019 U.S. Senior Open.