1. Assuming you are familiar and reasonably practiced with your P229, you will be ok. I always recommend you start with whatever suitable gun you already own instead of buying a new gun before you are sure you like the match.
2. I cannot recommend the Sig brand holster. It has a trigger finger latch similar to the SERPA which has been banned on several ranges. Get a plain open top Kydex holster. Blade Tech and Comp Tac are good brands, and even the Blackhawk plain CQC without SERPA is fine. Here is one of those on sale about as cheap as anything you will find.
http://www.reactgear.com/Blackhawk-S...e-p/4155-p.htm
You will also need two magazine carriers and at least three magazines. If you do not have wicked high capacity magazines so you can load one with 11 to start the stage, a fourth magazine for a Barney Bullet will be a help.
3. I like the New Shooter Briefing at
http://www.gadpa.com/index.php/idpa/...oter-briefing/
and you can always grind through the rule book at
www.idpa.com
I don't know what you mean by "sometime this year."
The right time is NEXT. Whenever the nearest club shoots next.
Don't be burning daylight. A lot of people have cursed every match they let pass by when they find out what a good time they can have.