Atlanta Committee of Olympic Games (ACOG) were trying to include golf on the 1996 program, Although they failed, but their efforts had proved to be controversial.

IOC members informed ACOG there was insufficient time to approve golf for 1996 and openly questioned the sport's elitist image, the committee continued to lobby for the sport and made the fatal mistake of choosing the Augusta National Golf Clubas the proposed venue.

Augusta National's reputation for excluding women and minorities caused residents of Atlanta to question ACOG's judgment. The Atlanta city council shared the community's misgivings and wrote to Saamaranch asking that he oppose the Augusta golf course.

ACOG finally dropped its campaign after SAmaranch publicly stated that the proposal had only a "slim possibility" of bing approved.