Cody “Beef” Franke, a beloved Barstool Sports golf personality celebrated for his infectious positivity and engaging instructional videos, has died at 31 following what colleagues called a sudden medical issue.
“Barstool lost a member of our family this weekend. Just tragic news. You will never find a nicer, more genuine person than Beef,” the group wrote on X. “It’s hard to even process it right now. Just another cruel reminder that tomorrow is never promised and to live each day to its fullest.”
In the Barstool Sports post, it shared that Cody “truly loved the game of golf.”
“He selflessly spent much of his life helping others improve and enjoy the game,” the post stated. “Watching golf bring people happiness brought him happiness, and that infectious personality was felt by everyone who met him.”
“From his time as a PGA professional to his time at Barstool Sports, Cody made so many people laugh, he made so many people smile, and he simply made so many people better,” Barstool Sports posted. “Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with Cody’s entire family and loved ones,”
Franke previously told PGA.com he was taken aback when David Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, reached out after seeing his swing-tip videos on social media.
“I originally thought it was a fake email,” he said. “They liked my content and wanted to bring me onto the team.”
According to the PGA interview, Franke’s social media following soared after joining Barstool Sports, jumping from around 1,200 to approximately 30,000 followers in less than a month.
His useful swing-tip videos connected with everyday golfers. Franke described himself as a “common instructor for the common golfer,” a phrase that summed up his mission to make golf more accessible and fun for players at every skill level.
Franke’s “Tip Tuesday” and “Friday Fix” videos earned him tens of thousands of followers online and helped expand Barstool’s golf audience. “Golf has always been home for me,” Franke said in the March interview. “If you go to the golf course, it doesn’t really feel like work-work—I’m just at a place I’m really happy to be around. I’m home.”
"We'll be removing our hats for Cody today and every day," Barstool Sports posted. "Rest in peace to the classiest man we knew."