Cody “Beef” Franke, a popular golf influencer for Barstool Sports, is dead at 31 after a “sudden medical issue.”
Franke started at Barstool in January and was a member of its ForePlay team that specializes in golf content.
“We are beyond devastated to announce that our good friend and cherished Barstool Sports colleague, Cody ‘Beef’ Franke, passed away from a sudden medical issue over the weekend,” ForePlay said in a statement.
Cody “Beef” Franke is dead at 31. barstoolbeef/Instagram
Franke was in the Dominican Republic attending a wedding, according to TMZ Sports.
Franke was previously the head pro at Thornberry Creek Country Club at Oneida in Hobart, Wisc. and made golf training videos before joining Barstool.
His swing tip videos were popular in the golf community and caught the eye of Barstool founder Dave Portnoy.
“Golf has always been home for me . . . it’s something I can go do. 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,” Franke told PGA.com. “That’s what this has always been for me.”
Beef in one of his golf swing tip videos. barstoolbeef/Instagram
“Barstool lost a member of our family this weekend. Just tragic news,” Portnoy said in a statement.
“You will never find a nicer more genuine person than Beef. 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.”
Franke continued with the swing tip videos at Barstool, while also traveling to play some of the top golf courses in the world with the rest of the Foreplay team — Sam Bozoian (Riggs), Frank Borrelli and Trent Ryan.
Franke went viral in February when ForePlay posted a video of him insisting on taking his hat off before shaking anyone’s hand.
Riggs reposted the video on Monday after Beef’s passing.
“Still one of my favorite videos of all time. Beef was all class,” Riggs wrote.
A cause of death was not immediately known.
