Going off to college can be an exciting time for teenagers. Many will be without parental supervision for the first time, and things can often get a little out of hand. Words like discipline and maturity can take a back seat to having fun.

That is, unless you are heading to Army West Point where teenagers grow up in a hurry. Bulloch Academy graduate Griffin Garvin was not only accepted to the prestigious school, but he was also recruited to be a member of the Army golf team.

Garvin finished as runner-up in his last junior golf event this week at Forest Heights and is excited about leaving later this month to head off to West Point.

“This week was fun with my friends pushing me to play hard, but I am really looking forward heading out soon,” Garvin said. “I am a little nervous, but I feel like this is my plan and my path so I am going to attack it full speed.”

Garvin connected with the Army team and coaches as the Black Knights have played in the last few Schenkel Invitationals, which is held at Forest Heights. Garvin wrapped up his junior career this week and knows the next competitive round he plays at Forest Heights will probably be the Schenkel Invitational in March.

“I have been coming to the Schenkel since I was a little kid,” Garvin said. “It is going to be so cool to be able to come back here as a collegiate golfer and get to experience it. It is something I have dreamed about.”

Army head coach Chad Bagley has gotten to know the Garvin family as the team has played in five Schenkel Invitationals. He has paid attention to Griffin’s progress as a high school golfer and feels he will be a perfect fit at West Point.

“You don’t have to be around Griffin very long to understand what a special young man he is,” Bagley said. “He has the kind of maturity and leadership qualities we look for and is also a great golfer. Our mission is a little greater though than just recruiting great golfers. Our mission is to produce leaders of character. Griffin will be a great asset to West Point and down the road he will be a great asset to the United States Army.”

While many collegiate golfers will spend the next couple months primarily playing golf, Garvin will be in a six-week military basic training in West Point.

“We have something called mass athletics which is a short break a couple days a week during the Basic training,” Garvin said. “I will be able to play and practice about 14 times in that six-week period, but most of what I am doing will be pretty tough. It is not my normal schedule but I am still looking forward to the whole experience and I feel blessed to be able to be a part of Army West Point.”