Housebreaking puppy questions?

I'm getting a puppy golden retriever in a month and just wanted to get some advice from people who own dogs. During the night, I'm going to leave the crate door open, and have baby gates around the kitchen so he has access to his crate and the potty pad so he doesn't have to hold his pee and he learns not to pee in the crate. I will be home mostly everyday, so on those days I will encourage him to go outside, but if I step out I will put him back into his confined kitchen area with his crate and pad. The pad is only to be used at night and in the day when I'm not home so that he doesn't make a mess and doesn't have to hold it in. My only concern is that he doesn't learn to go outside if he uses the pad. I was just wondering if any of you have pad trained your puppies and how they transitioned to going outside? Also, do my methods seem ok?