| Name |
Nora Balayti |
| Nickname |
Chuck Nora/Noratorious |
| PDGA Number |
48273 |
| Division |
AM |
| How long have you been playing disc golf? |
21 years |
| How did you get your start in disc golf? |
In highschool (whispers* 20 yrs ago), it was a way for me to hang out with my older brother and his friends. I like to joke that I've been "frolfing" for 15 years and disc golfing for 5. |
| What do you love most about the sport? |
The great outdoors. As a kid I was always playing in the woods. It was my little world. Now as an adult, because of disc golf, I get to continue exploring beautiful outdoor scenery. Its no surprise I'm a fan of wooded courses over open ones. |
| What makes disc golf better than the other sports you have played? |
The accountability. I played a lot of team sports growing up. While its good to build teamwork, I like the fact that its just me out there. No one to blame and no one to let down. I love that I can go out and play by myself. That's my "me-time". |
| How do you approach a new course? |
If its a tournament, I try to get there early enough to at least walk the course. I sometimes like to walk it backwards because it helps me see more openings on the fairway that I wouldn't be able to see from the tee. I will also search youtube to see if there's any coverage at the course prior. If I can't do any of these, I try to play safe. |
| What motivates you to continually improve your game? |
I have always been a competitive person. Having an athletic older brother, I always pushed myself to be a solid athlete. Whatever it is I'm doing, I expect to get better at it the more I work. Since my first PDGA rating, I have continued to climb until this past year, I started to see myself plateau. This has motivated me to really analyze several aspects of my game. What can I change to lower these strokes? Lets do it! |
| What do you do to stay focused playing in tourneys? |
Anytime I begin to get frustrated, I remind myself that there really isn't anything else I'd rather be doing so getting upset is....well, dumb. Visualizing every single shot before I throw it is really helpful too. I like to draw a line with my mind. |
| What’s your most memorable win? |
Illinois State Championship 2020. Playing FA2, I was down two strokes from the lead going into the final round. We went head to head, hole by hole. Up, even, down, even, up, etc. Mentally, I was so proud I could keep it together with so much pressure throughout the entire final round. I managed to prevail, winning by 1 stroke. The previous year, I won FA3 and this year I plan on winning FA1. |
| What’s your most memorable disc golf moment? |
In the past two years, I have had a major hand in developing two 9-hole courses in my community. My favorite disc golf moment is every time I see a new player or a family out playing. I think to myself, they are in for such a great time and its all because we worked with our park district and community and raised all the money necessary for this to happen. PROUD! |
| What are your top three favorite discs? |
This is really hard but one is definitely my West Side Harp. I have bagged at least one for several years now. I use it mainly for side arm upshots. Secondly, I have to say my West Side Stag. I just love flex shots and I can always depend on my stag to get me where I need to go. Last but not least, I think I'm going to have to say my Dynamic Discs Warden. I seriously bag 4 of them. Two for putting and two for upshots and full send straight shots. I love the classic blend plastic for how it feels when I turbo putt. |
| What are your top three courses you have played? |
I have played over 90 courses so this is tough. My most memorable would have to be Stafford Lake in Novato California, Harmony Bends in Columbia, Missouri and Cedar Hill in Madison Tennessee. |
| If you could play any course in the world, which would it be? |
I've always wanted to go to Alaska and last year Eric McCabe designed the Meier lake disc course in Fishhook Alaska. That would be amazing! |
| Who is your disc golf hero, and how were you influenced be him or her? |
I honestly don't have one. I don't try to be anyone or play like anyone besides myself. I have however been greatly influenced by so many amazing ladies I've met in the sport. Not so much for how they play or how good they are but how they present themselves and how much they help the game. That's what I strive for as well. |
| Whats in the bag? |
I am a Team Westside Warrior so I bag mostly Westside discs but all trilogy. It changes depending on the course but currently I have Warden, Maiden, Shield, Harp, Gatekeeper, Emac Truth, Justice, Warship, Sapphire, Stag, Ahti, Renegade, Convict, Sword, Long Bowman, Boatman, Hatchet, King, Bolt and Fortress. |
| What non-disc golf hobbies do you have? |
I participate in a bowling league 4 months out of the year. I love to cook! If I wasn't a working artist/teacher I would've loved to have become a chef. I used to race mountain bikes off road cross country for 4 years when I was an adolescent. I still love to take long bike rides (usually with my older brother). In the spring time, not only am I excited to start playing more disc golf but it also means its time to plant! Every year, my garden gets bigger and bigger. I love to be able to cook with things I've grown. Besides disc golf, I'm almost always up for any pickup game of softball, soccer or volleyball. I'm also going to try my hand at pickle ball this year. |
| Any superstitions you have before or during a round? |
If you believe in luck, you must believe in bad luck, so I don't. I do however believe in good karma. I always try to pick up trash as I walk through a course. Whenever I get that fortunate tree kick, I like to think its because I'm helping nature and nature is helping me back. I also never talk smack about trees. It sounds weird but I don't like to upset them. |
| What does #NoBadRounds mean to you? |
#NoBadRounds to me means that even if you played horrible, you still got to play and that's great. So you were having grip issues, those branches seem to jump out of no where and that root kicked your disc up and it rolled down a hill. Whatever the circumstance, you were outside, using your body and mind and playing a game, probably with some friends. Is there really a time during a round you didn't smile or laugh at least once? Every round is an opportunity to grow and learn. |
| What do you love most about your FlighTowel? |
We aren't always able to practice some drives before a round but boy what a difference the FlighTowel makes! Getting that motion and timing down while practicing that snap at the end can really help you warm up for those first tee shots. Not only warming up your shots but its a great stretching tool. I have learned over time that it is absolutely crucial to stretch those muscles before throwing if you don't want to get hurt. Keeping a full comfortable range of motion is key to a good drive. You need every part of your body to work together. |
| Is there anything else you would like to add to your Team FlighTowel profile? |
In October my amazing fiance and I are getting married on the first disc golf course we had built in 2018. He and I are also the co-captains of our local disc golf club simply called Dixon Disc Golf. Were committed to growing the sport in our community and having lots of fun along the way. Look us up on IG and FB. |
| Facebook Link |
www.facebook.com/NoraK8 |
