Was hoping to find an answer in this thread but it derailed quite a bit into IPSC vs IDPA. I'm in the same boat (have blackbadge and shoot IPSC) and one of the best parts for me about IPSC is that I can shoot at any club offering IPSC without being a member at said club.
I see target sports IDPA matches show up on practiscore, but it says it's for target members only. Sharon's website says that IDPA matches are posted on the Sharon website but I can't find any info so I presume I have to be a member at Sharon to access that part of the website. ESSA isn't listing any IDPA events as special events open to public.
I don't want to join IDPA only to find out I wasted money because I'm not a member of target or Sharon. Is my understanding on this correct? Or are there IDPA matches available that don't require you to be members at those two ranges?
For both you, and the OP, if you want to go out and shoot a match and have fun, check out ODPL or many of the outlaw matches that run in Ontario. Guelph Rod and Gun, sometimes I think it is closer to Toronto than Guelph, they run a variety of different matches, ODPL, 2 gun, 3 gun, same with the Galt Sportsman club, neither require membership to soot the matches, and great guys running matches at both. For the OP, you.re in Waterloo? Check out shooting opportunities with the guys from Shooters Choice. I like the outlaw matches, run what you brung, have fun, be safe, and have a great time with a great bunch of people.
And another hint, when you show up for a match, help out, patching, resetting targets, tear down at the end of the day, the guys running this matches will never get rich, it is mostly volunteers that do it for the sake of the sport and sharing their passions. It's not a bunch of sponsors footing the bill and paying for the labor, chip in and give them a hand.
