Cody Beef Franke dies: 5 interesting things about Barstool PGA creator; ‘tragic news’

Popular Barstool Sports personality and golf content creator Cody ‘Beef’ Franke died over the weekend.

Published on: Oct 27, 2025, 23:55:14 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Popular Barstool Sports personality and golf content creator Cody ‘Beef’ Franke died over the weekend, the company's Fore Play podcast confirmed on Monday. He was 31. While his exact cause of death was not revealed, Barstool added that he suffered a ‘sudden medical issue’. He was attending a wedding in the Dominican Republic, colleague Dan 'Big Cat Katz said.

Cody Beef Franke died over the weekend (Instagram/Barstool)

“Really, really, really sad. Really tragic,” Katz said. “It’s devastating. I don't know what else to say.”

Barstool founder Dave Portnoy paid a sweet tribute to his colleague. “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. #Ripbeef," he posted on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.

5 interesting things about Cody ‘Beef’ Franke

Passion for golf: Franke was a PGA of America Golf Professional and head pro at Thornberry Creek Club in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, for nearly a decade. He maintained his profile as the ‘common instructor for the common golfer’, sharing regular advice on social media, where he amassed nearly 50,000 Instagram followers with videos on swing tips and outings.

Barstool breakthrough: Franke joined Barstool Sports in March 2025, transitioning from part-time golf coaching to full-time content creation. He co-hosted the Fore Play podcast.

Two-time PGA Section award winner: Franke's talent shone through his two PGA Section awards, recognizing his teaching excellence. He helped over 500 students.

Chicago roots: A Lake Villa native and Lakes Community High School graduate, Franke grew up in the Chicago suburbs, playing golf from age three with brother Craig, also a PGA pro at Monroe Golf Club.

Family and net worth details: Franke's net worth and Barstool salary details are not available on public platforms. There is no information on his wife or children. The only family member the PGA creator mentioned was his brother Craig, who played golf with Franke.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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