Permission to Pause

Why Your Expedition Should Include Some Downtime

Daniel Jones

January 9, 2026

5 Minute Read

There’s a moment that shows up on more overseas golf trips than most Captains expect.

It usually happens quietly.
Often midweek.
Sometimes after a tough weather day.

Someone leans back at dinner and says something like, “I wouldn’t mind sleeping in and grabbing a massage tomorrow.”

And just as quickly, the thought passes. The schedule is full. Tee times are set. Everyone presses on.

What’s interesting is not that the thought occurred. It’s how rarely it makes its way into the plan.

What Our Members Told Us

When sharing advice for golf trip Captains, we often encourage them to build a bit of breathing room into their Expeditions. Not because fewer rounds make for a better trip, but because proper pacing does.

And yet, most groups approach planning with a similar mindset. They have a finite window. They’re excited. They want to make the most of every day. They can rest when they get home.

But with the benefit of hindsight, and a little distance from the itinerary, the view is a little different.

In a recent survey of hundreds of Haversham & Baker Members, one theme surfaced more than any other.

Downtime.

More specifically, many Members shared that their Expedition could have benefitted from a pause.

A lighter day. A slower morning. A chance to reset and explore mid-trip.

But just as telling was how they phrased it.

Some hinted that they didn’t want to be the one to suggest a reset day. No one wants to feel like they’re holding the group back, especially on a trip that’s been anticipated for years.

All of which is to say, the desire for downtime is common. The willingness to ask for it... Not so much.

The Expedition led by Dr. Jeff Lawrence, hiking the stunning cliffs of Southwest Ireland.

Why A Pause Has to Be Planned

This is where the Captain’s role matters more than most realize. Because once the plan is shared, the pace is effectively set.

Once an Expedition is built and underway, it becomes surprisingly difficult to pivot on the fly. Tee times are fixed. Logistics are timed. Dinner reservations are made.

In theory, you can always skip something. In practice, very few groups do.

That’s why the best pacing decisions aren’t made mid-trip. They’re made during planning, before anyone feels like they’re opting out.

One of the most effective approaches is surprisingly simple:

Add an extra night without adding extra golf.

For many Captains, this is the single decision that changes the feel of the entire week.

The same rounds.
The same marquee courses.
Breathing room in the middle of the journey.

The result is a trip that feels more relaxed without anyone feeling like they sacrificed golf to get there.

"I wish someone would have encouraged us to play one less round and put in a day of rest, or add a day to the trip so we could have a rest day in the middle. We played golf 9 days in a row. I think we all would have been energized by a day off in the middle where we could sleep, hit the spa, do laundry, or just spend the day in a pub."

Mike Snyder, The Country Club at Muirfield Village

What a Pause Is (And Isn't)

A pause does not mean doing nothing.
It does not have to mean less golf.
And it certainly doesn’t mean diminishing the experience.

Some groups use a pause day to sleep in and wander town. Others book a spa appointment, enjoy a long lunch, or visit the coffee shop they spotted earlier in the week.

And for those who wake up feeling fresh and eager? That’s often the perfect moment to pick up an emergency round on the fly.

The defining feature isn’t what you do.

It’s that everyone has permission to choose.

The Expedition led by Al Pondel enjoys a little downtime on a glorious day in The Home of Golf.

A Different Kind of Golf Day

For some groups, a pause doesn’t mean stepping away from golf at all. It simply means changing the tempo.

In St. Andrews, that often means a loop around The Himalayas putting course. No scorecards. No pressure. Just a wild green, a bit of competition, and a lot of laughter.

Others opt for hickory golf at Kingarrock or Musselburgh Links, where the game slows down and reconnects you with its deepest roots.

Sometimes it’s as simple as nine holes when the option presents itself. Or a pitch & putt in Ireland that surprises everyone.

These days don’t feel like compromises. They feel like gifts.

And they often leave the group more energized than another full round ever could.

The Expedition led by Jeff Cooper from Moraine Country Club and Kiawah Island Club enjoys a round with the hickories at Musselburgh.

When the Pause Matters Most

While every Expedition is different, a few moments consistently benefit from intentional breathing room.

After a demanding golf day

A day that includes 36 holes at a place like Muirfield is unforgettable. It’s also taxing. Planning a lighter following day often makes the rest of the week better, not shorter.

Mid-trip

The middle of the journey is when travel, early mornings, and excitement quietly add up. A pause here resets the group more effectively than pushing through.

Between regions

Transition days naturally lend themselves to easing off the throttle. They’re ideal opportunities to explore without watching the clock.

"Coming off 36 at Muirfield was perfect timing for the off day. Provided everyone an opportunity to physically and mentally reset as desired. We got into St. Andrews around 11 am. Some guys walked around St. Andrews a bit. Others, went to the spa. Two of us got a tee time at the New. We invited our driver, Alan to join us which was great."

Tom Knudtson – Dubuque Golf & Country Club

What to Do When You Press Pause

The best advice we can offer is simple: Keep it light.

Meander town.
Do a bit of shopping.
Lead your own pub crawl.
Visit the spa.
Read a book in a quiet corner.
Play golf. Or don’t.

What matters most is that the day belongs to you, not the itinerary.

And then comes one of the most underrated moments of the entire Expedition.

Everyone reconvenes that evening. Drinks are poured. Dinner unfolds. And the table fills with stories about where the day took each person.

A pub discovered. A walk that ran long. A quiet hour that felt restorative. An unexpected nine holes that turned into something memorable.

Different days. Shared stories.

Those evenings often become the glue that brings the group back together for the moments still to come.

Dr. Steve Regan and Friends from Fort Wayne Country Club enjoy their private whiskey tasting in John Jameson’s office.

The Captain's Gift

For Captains, building in breathing room isn’t about slowing the trip down. It’s about making it sustainable.

By planning in downtime, you remove the social friction of asking for it later. You give the group permission to enjoy the journey at a human pace. And you often end up with a trip that feels richer, not lighter.

For repeat Members, this idea usually lands with a nod of recognition. They’ve felt it before. They just didn't know how to ask for it.

Well, consider this your permission to pause.