The club owns about 1.2ha on the corner of Waimea St and State Highway 94, where its club rooms and the Hokonui Pioneer Village and Museum is located.
For more than 40 years the public had been allowed to use a shingle loop track to access to the stream and duck pond at the end of the grounds.
However, club members have blocked vehicle access to the pond by putting up temporary barriers and gates will soon be installed to stop people from driving in after hours.
Club maintenance supervisor Keith Nunn said club members have had a “gutsful” of drivers misusing the grounds.
“Before we put all these obstacles in the road they would come in here at 90 mile an hour and skid and break windows and just about run over people that are here,” Mr Nunn said.
Mr Nunn conceded his estimation of how fast the drivers were going was exaggerated “but they come in here sideways”.
“You can see all the potholes and skiddies.”
Other acts of vandalism included a fence being pushed down with a four-wheel-drive vehicle, a bollard marking the edge of the entranceway bridge being knocked into the stream and rubbish from takeaway meals left at the grounds.
The problem had become worse in the last six to nine months and it involved drivers in the 16 to 30-year-old age range, he said.
People thought the land belonged to the Gore District Council but it had been owned by the club for more than 40 years.
He felt sorry for those people who did not misuse the grounds and said a minority had spoiled it for the majority.
“People take their kids down to feed the ducks.
“It’s a shame for those ones.”
Hokonui Pioneer Village and Museum secretary Nancy Stronach said police had been contacted about the situation.
“By the time [police] get here they’re gone. Police have got other things to deal with.
“This is petty.”
The speed restriction for the area was 10kmh but “they don’t even see that and its big enough to see”.
It was disappointing to have to deal with the misbehaviour of a few, as both groups were mostly run by volunteers who wanted to promote Gore, she said.
Senior Sergeant Cynthia Fairley, of Gore, said police were disappointed "the continued anti-social behaviour and blatant disrespect" at the grounds had led to gates being installed.
"This is an area that has had a lot of time, money and volunteer time put into it and is valued by our local people, walkers and families," Snr Sgt Fairley said.
Police preferred to prevent crime through the use of security lighting and the installation of CCTV cameras.
Police valued calls for help and would try to attend incidents, she said.
"If anyone has information regarding this type of behaviour they can contact local police."
- Crimestoppers 0800 555-111 or online.
