I belong to
my local USPSA club, mainly to keep my handgun skills tuned and to support a club in the shooting sports. New shooters shoot their first match free, you don't have to be a member to shoot, and we try to welcome everybody who shows up. It helps to have a friend or acquaintance in the club for your first match, but it certainly isn't necessary.
Some folks think that clubs get a little clique-ish, but we're all there to have fun and shoot. I've not been with the club but a few months, but I've been made to feel very welcome. A gun club, like any club, is normally busy at the start of the match. Registering shooters, putting up targets, collecting fees and doing record keeping. We always have a new-shooter's meeting before the match begins to make sure that we go over safety rules, answer questions, and try to give someone an idea of what to expect. If a newby will excuse that and wait till we're squadded, he'll find that we're helpful, friendly, and courteous. Once you're assigned to a squad, we'll do everything we can do to make you feel welcome, answer questions, etc.
You're not going to win your first match. I'm not there to win matches, and if you shoot better than I do, I'll pat you on the back and congratulate you. In our club, like most clubs, we have a certain percentage of serious competitive shooters, a certain percentage of casual shooters and a certain percentage of old farts like me who want to support the club, have fun, and get out of the house one Saturday a month. To be honest, in most matches I don't even check the scores. I'm shooting against myself, to keep tuned on the handgun, and to enjoy the company of like-minded people. In my mind if I burn some powder, don't embarrass myself, and come home safe at the end of the day I'm a winner.