As President Barack Obama returns to the mainland United States after a holiday vacation in his native Hawaii, a newspaper report gave an inkling into what it's like to play 18 holes with the leader of the free world.

The New York Times article interviewed three people who teed it up with the president and shared some of their experiences.

"He needles you in the best sense of the word," said one of the three golfers. "He makes a bad shot, and he makes fun of himself. You make a bad shot, and he makes a joke with you. He just seems happy to be out there, so the poor play doesn't bother him."

Officials at the USGA and the R&A might be a fan of Obama's if for nothing else because, according to the report, he is known as a stickler for the rules. He has also played for money, doesn't talk politics on the course and typically won't use his Secret Service detail as forecaddies to find errant shots.

So what does he usually shoot?

For much of his presidency, Obama often carded between 90 and the low 100s, but in an August interview with The New York Times, he revealed his lowest career round was 80, shot during the summer.

As for his game on vacation, Obama took some heat for deciding to play a round at a local course, thus forcing a couple -- who were both in the military -- to move their wedding location at the last minute. According to the paper, Obama shot a 12-over-par 84 that day.

CBS News' Mark Knoller, who tracks the president's schedule -- along with his rounds of golf -- said Obama has spent roughly 1,000 hours inside the ropes over 214 rounds since his election in 2008.

One golfer whom The New York Times interviewed said Obama's demeanor inside the ropes painted a positive picture of the president.

"If you came down from Mars and saw his disposition on the golf course, you would think he would be a pretty good president," the golfer said. "He's honest, he keeps his composure through terrible adversity, he's unruffled, he smiles, and he doesn't quit."