Why is the bridge called golden when it’s red?

I believe the "golden" refers to the strait, not the bridge across it.

When we went, we were told that although it is actually red, when seen from a distance in the fog it appears golden.

The Golden Gate Bridge's signature color was not intended to be permanent. The steel that arrived in San Francisco to build the Golden Gate Bridge was coated in a burnt red and orange shade of primer to protect it from corrosive elements.