Absolutely check with the local club's flight instructor(s) and buy compatible equipment! If you don't, I would highly recommend buying a compatible transmitter on your own to use as a buddy box.

Do NOT attempt this on your own. Glow planes are fast and can be dangerous. People have been killed when hit by a glow plane. []

RTF is a great way to get started quickly, and learning to make minor repairs won't be all that difficult. However, we up here in New England are quickly running short of flying time, so your best bet might be this:
1) Find the local club and find out what radio equipment they use.
(This site has a page to help find a club: http://www.modelaircraft.org)
2) Join the AMA (see the above site), because you will probably need to join AMA in order to fly at a club field. AMA provides liability insurance, and today, it's all about liability!
3) Buy your equipment, but make it an ARF trainer, an OS 46 FX (or Thunder Tiger 46 PRO, or an Evolution 46), and a computer radio. If the club uses Futaba or Hitec, get a Futaba 6EXA, or a Hitec Flash 5, or Hitec Eclipse 7. (The numbers designate the number of channels usually.)
4) Get a flight simulator. FMS is a free Sim that you can download from the internet. You'll need an interface to connect your transmitter to your PC.
(Here's a link to a guy who makes them. $22 shipped I believe: http://www.mattclement.freeservers.com/fms/fms.html)
The Great Planes "Real Flight" simulator is probably the best available, but it's around $200.

Spend the winter assembling your ARF trainer, and practicing with the simulator. You'll have a huge leg up come spring. In the meantime you can attend club meetings and get to know the great group of guys you'll be flying with!

Welcome aboard, and good luck however you choose to go. Just take your time. Patience is one of the most important things to develop in this hobby.
Dennis-