It's a good way to learn and to meet new people. In our club for instance, not only do we fish for bass, we also fish for pike, muskie and crappie, and in the past have also fished walleye. Costs are just BASS membership (approx $50.00) and club dues (includes OBF, approx $50.00). No tournament entry fees, just paying the boater gas money.
Your skill level will improve over time, when I started in 2001 I was a rank amateur, now I'm a bass fishing machine ?LOL
Good luck
Tom