Thomas J. O’Toole Jr. has been elected to serve a one-year term as the 63rd president of the United States Golf Association, which together with The R&A governs the game worldwide. The election of officers and the 15-member USGA Executive Committee also took place during the USGA’s Annual Meeting in the Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina.

As president, the 56-year-old O’Toole, assumes the leadership of the more than 300 professional staff and nearly 1,200 volunteers who serve the 119-year-old organization, and succeeds Glen D. Nager, of Washington, D.C., who served for two years as USGA president.

“It is an honor and a privilege to lead such a noble organization,” said O’Toole, who is from St. Louis. “I am excited and energized to continue my service to the Association and keenly aware of the magnitude of the profound responsibilities that accompany this role.”

During his Annual Meeting remarks, O’Toole announced that the USGA will commit resources and energy in 2014 toward the creation of a comprehensive strategy to help open up the game to audiences that have historically been underserved by the golf industry. As part of that commitment, the USGA is formulating a task force comprising Executive Committee and staff leaders, thought leaders from across the golf industry, and thought leaders from beyond golf to identify and prioritize the best opportunities for opening up the game and enabling greater participation by minorities, women, juniors and golfers with disabilities.

O’Toole has dedicated more than a quarter century in service to the USGA and the game. He has been associated with the USGA since 1988, serving as a rules official at more than 150 USGA championships, including every U.S. Open since 1990. Since 2004, he has been a member of the Rules of Golf Committee.