Cody “Beef” Franke, the popular Barstool Sports personality who delivered golfing tips to the “common golfer” with a gentle voice and often a chuckle, died over the weekend after what the digital media company he worked for called a “sudden medical issue.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Franke was 31.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Barstool lost a member of our family this weekend,” company founder Dave Portnoy posted on X. “Just tragic news. You will never find a nicer more genuine person than Beef. It\u2019s hard to even process it right now. Just another cruel reminder that tomorrow is never promised and to live each day to its fullest.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Portnoy did not provide a cause of death or any funeral arrangements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Franke was a Chicago native who worked as a golf pro for almost a decade on courses in California and Wisconsin before he got an email out of the blue last year from Portnoy to become part of Barstool’s \u201cFore Play\u201d golf podcasts, according to the PGA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Portnoy had seen golfing videos of Franke on his social media page and decided he deserved a bigger audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI originally thought it was a fake email,\u201d Franke told the PGA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Franke said he briefly contemplated trying to juggle being a golf pro while working for Barstool before he opted to take the plunge in December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBeing a PGA Member, you can\u2019t really do something like this part time and work at a golf course,” he told the PGA. “There\u2019s just too much time being consumed. So, I made the decision to go full time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Franke said that after he joined the show, his Instagram following skyrocketed from 1,200 to over 30,000 followers and suddenly he was being recognized in airports and posing for selfies with famous pro golfers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said his goal was to make golf more fun and satisfying for the \u201ccommon golfer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Polite to a fault, Franke became famous on the circuit for doffing his cap at meet-and-greets with fans and at other public appearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with Cody\u2019s entire family and loved ones,” Barstool said in a statement. We\u2019ll be removing our hats for Cody today and everyday. Rest in peace to the classiest man we knew.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are beyond devastated to announce that our good friend and cherished Barstool Sports colleague, Cody \u2018Beef\u2019 Franke, passed away from a sudden medical issue over the weekend,\u201d the statement said. \u201cCody truly loved the game of golf. He selflessly spent much of his life helping others improve and enjoy the game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n