By Dave Shedloski

Village of Pinehurst, N.C. – About 130 miles, 40 years and one leap of faith separate this famous golfing destination from the relatively unknown and uncelebrated town of Mount Airy, N.C., a real place that Reed Howard has never seen, yet to which he might feel a slight twinge of allegiance, even if it’s all in his head.

Which would make perfect sense.

Truth can be stranger than fiction. Truth, it turns out, also can be stronger than fiction or made stronger through fiction.

The truth about Howard is that he is one of the more fascinating participants in this week’s 108th U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club not too far, if the mind will allow, from a place that made his father famous, even if it doesn’t really exist. Mayberry, N.C., is where Reed’s dad, Ron Howard, traipsed about on the popular 1960s television series, The Andy Griffith Show, as a carefree and curious boy named Opie. Griffith was born in Mount Airy, which served as an inspirational model to Mayberry and to this day still celebrates "Mayberry Days."

Howard, 21, feels more comfortable talking about scorecards than sitcoms, even if his first round in the national amateur championship resulted in a disappointing 4-over-par 74 on Pinehurst’s No. 4 Course.

"I’ve heard it a few times … Mayberry. It’s kind of cool, but I don’t really try to think about it. I’m actually pretty good at ignoring it," said Howard, playing in his first U.S. Golf Association championship, Monday afternoon. "I’ve never really thought about where it actually could be, if it were a real place."

Howard can’t hide the fact that he is his father’s son. There is the shock of red-orange hair, a part of which is impossible to not notice despite the form-fitting beige cap covering most of his head. There is the fair complexion on the cherubic face. There is his easy manner – even after a hard day on a tough course capped by a hard lesson.

Born in London on April 12, 1987, the day before his father began directing the fantasy-adventure film, Willow, Reed Howard has no desire to follow in dad’s footsteps in the motion picture industry, though he has appeared on camera on several occasions, if only because he was hanging around some movie sets. "My sisters are into acting," he said. "I like golf."

His uncle, Clint, whose most significant screen credits include Parenthood and Apollo 13 (directed by older brother Ron), is an avid golfer who introduced him to the game when he was 12. Dad was directing How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Reed actually had a chance to put on a costume to become one of the Whos in Whoville. But he learned during that time period that what seemed to fit him best was the links land.

He was fond of baseball, hockey and soccer, but those pursuits – as well as paintball, which he enjoyed so much that he incorporated the word it into his e-mail address – quickly faded from favor after daily rounds at Debell Golf Course, a public facility in Burbank, Calif.

"Golf pretty much took over everything," said Howard, who calls New York home and is still a baseball fan. He is partial to the Yankees, which he attests via his oversized "NY" logo buckle adorning his thick, white leather belt.

He soon immersed himself in the game, attending the International Junior Golf Academy and the affiliated Heritage Academy prep school in Hilton Head Island, S.C., before enrolling for a year at Pepperdine University. He transferred last year to the University of South Carolina-Beaufort, an NAIA school that started a golf program last fall. A history major, Howard competed in the spring as the Sand Sharks’ No. 1 player, and he finished 15th or better in five of six matches.

Qualifying for the U.S. Amateur in his second attempt elevated his level of achievement this year. Howard followed a 74 with a career-low 65 at the Golf Course at Yale in New Haven, Conn., to earn one of the three qualifying spots. His father missed Monday’s opening round, having flown in for the weekend to watch his son practice before returning from California, where he is directing his next motion picture, Angels And Demons.

Sounds like it could be a golf movie. Reed might agree.

There were notable episodes of good and bad in his opener with birdies on the fourth and ninth holes that allowed him to rally from a 5-over start after 10 holes. The first birdie was erased, however, when he and his playing partners, Ming Wang of Reunion, Fla., and Jeremy Gearhart of Atascadero, Calif., incurred a one-stroke penalty for slow play. The trio was assessed the penalty when they clocked in 19 minutes behind the threesome in front of them, which constituted their second bad time of the round.

Howard contended that he and his partners waited for 10-15 minutes on the first few holes of their second nine, but then the group in front, fearing they might incur a penalty, literally ran for the next two holes. Howard’s group didn’t close the gap.

"They were just hauling [butt] on No. 3," said Howard’s caddie, Greg Barnett, a friend from Pepperdine. "I mean, I don’t know what we are supposed to do. Should we have to run?"

Basically, yes, said Jeff Hall, managing director of rules and competitions for the USGA. "I have no doubt that may have occurred, but once the group in front starts taking off, the groups behind have to react. No one wants to hand out penalties, but they did have a 15-minute window, and they missed it by four minutes without indicating they encountered any unusual situations."

The extra stroke has applied added pressure on Howard, to post a low number on Tuesday afternoon on the more difficult No. 2 Course, which he has never seen because heavy rains washed out Sunday’s practice rounds. If he should be among the 64 players to advance to match play, Reed also would make the director’s cut, per se; dad plans to return if his son remains in the championship, Reed said.

"That would be great to see him back here," said the younger Howard, who has shared some of his best golfing memories with his father.

"He plays occasionally, might not break 100, but the thing is he only plays with me. We’ve had some great times on the golf course. He took me to Las Vegas this year for my 21st birthday. For my 18th we went to Pebble Beach. Golf is an excuse for us to spend extra time together."

Sounds very, well … Mayberry. But, you know, truth is stronger than fiction.

Dave Shedloski is a freelance writer whose work has previously appeared on www.usamateur.org.