Donald Trump's Golden Golf Club: Shinzo Abe Gifted President Gaudy, $3,700 Driver, Used In Florida Round

President Donald Trump's affection for gold is well documented — the color is the defining motif of his New York City penthouse. Trump has now taken that love of gold to the golf course, playing a round during the weekend with a golden driver, Politico reported.

Trump played Saturday with Japanese Prime Minister in a round that was bizarrely closed off to reporters. The two played at Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida, accompanied by professional golfer Ernie Els. The press was forced to wait out the round in a basement at the club, the windows covered with black plastic, apparently to give Trump privacy as he golfed.

Politico published a few photos it obtained of Trump on the warm-up driving range, however, and it showed the president using a bright golden driver. It's a bold statement in an often-reserved game.

The gaudy club was actually a gift from Abe, who gave the driver to Trump after he won the presidential election in November, Golf.com pointed out. The club is made by the Japanese company Honma and retails for an eye-popping $3,755, according to Golf Digest. For context, a new, absolutely top-of-the line driver from a company such as Titleist or Taylormade usually sells for about $500. The Honma club is specially designed to help prevent players from slicing their shots, meaning, for a right-handed golfer, the ball trails off to the right from the intended target.

Trump is a good golfer, a perhaps unsurprising fact considering his name adorns quite a few courses worldwide. Back when he was just a billionaire businessman running for president, Trump was highly critical of then-President Barack Obama, who played a fair bit of golf.

"He played more golf last year than Tiger Woods," Trump said at a campaign rally in December 2015. "We don't have time for this. We have to work. I love golf, I think it's one of the greats, but I don’t have time."