I am looking at joining some sort of competitive handgun program where I can become more proficient (and have some fun).

I am leaning toward IDPA, but would also consider IPSC or some other club.

I am located in Northern Utah.

Any suggestions from y'all? Had any experience(s) you'd like to share?

being associated with local ipsc clubs that also shoot idpa i have noticed some things(i have shot ipsc @10 years). idpa revolves around the proper techniques of shooting your way out of a situation. ipsc is a game, not that this is bad because a lot of equipment and techniques have been discovered in the name of speed and "gaming". a large percentage of the local ipsc shooting clan is there for fun and to blow off a couple hundred rounds. idpa shooters locally seem to be too bothered with getting into the proper shooting position that bill wilson has dictated for the day. i know that these are gross extremes of both discipline. now lets really P.O. the idpa clan, it seems locally that the idpa group is a bunch of penny pinchers that really do not want to financially obligate to their sport. the ipsc crowd seems to be too busy trying to make the next gimmick work on their gun.
AGAIN BOTH OF THESE EXTREMES IN BOTH SPORTS.
the only advise that i can suggest is to try both a few times you may end up doing both which is perfectly fine. i personally i try to not take life to seriously i shoot my ipsc open gun at idpa matches for the practice. i guess the local club will take my entrance money but they do not have to score me.
TRY BOTH AND CHOSE THE OPTIONS YOURSELF AND DO NOT PAY TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO WHAT OTHERS THINK IS FUN. remember some consider jumping off bridges fun.

I've observed both organizations and each has its place, depending on the shooter. Being a retired police officer, IDPA doesn't suit me. Only because it resembles police qualification shooting (to some degree), using cover concealment, proper stance, etc. Been there, done that. It does not have shoot or don't shoot scenarios, of course, which are more serious in design. And I can't make sense of the "tactical reload". With an empty magazine, simply drop it on the ground, reload and continue in the fight. Anyway, in both IDPA and USPSA you simply fire your weapon everytime. It's an adrenaline rush. I prefer the USPSA organization. It's more of a "sport". However, I'm not into the expensive "race guns", rather the standard everyday stock service weapon. Here's the USPSA website: http://www.uspsa.org/