- Cody “Beef” Franke passed away at 31 due to a sudden medical issue.
- His family has requested privacy and released a brief, heartfelt statement.
- He is survived by his parents and his brother, Craig, who also works in golf.
- Franke transitioned from a PGA professional to a beloved Barstool Sports content creator.
- He was widely remembered for his exceptional kindness, humility, and love for the game of golf.
A beloved figure in the golf world, Cody “Beef” Franke, passed away unexpectedly on October 27, 2025, at the age of 31. The Barstool Sports personality and former PGA professional died from a sudden medical issue while attending a wedding in the Dominican Republic, a tragedy that shocked his colleagues, fans, and the entire golf community.
While the specific medical cause has not been publicly disclosed, the news was confirmed by his colleagues at Barstool Sports’ Fore Play podcast, where Franke had become a popular and cherished member of the team.
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A Family’s Heartbreak and Request for Privacy
In the wake of their devastating loss, Cody Franke’s family has requested privacy as they grieve. Through representatives at Barstool Sports, they shared a brief, touching message that reflected the same warmth Franke was known for.
The family expressed that they are “thankful for everyone’s kind messages and prayers during this painful time”. In their message, they remembered him by saying, “Cody lived life with humor, passion, and generosity. He made every room brighter. We ask that his fans honor his memory by living as he did, with kindness and laughter”. No details for a public memorial have been announced, though sources indicate the family is planning a private service.
We are extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Cody “Beef” Franke, PGA. pic.twitter.com/WXHww8IyFd
— PGA of America (@PGA) October 27, 2025
Cody Franke’s Parents and Siblings
Information about Cody Franke’s immediate family is limited, as he largely kept that part of his life private. Public records and news reports refer to his father as Mr. Franke and his mother as Mrs. Franke. He was born in the United States and was of American White ethnicity.
The most frequently mentioned family member was his brother, Craig Franke. The brothers shared a deep bond through golf, a passion introduced to them by their grandparents. Craig also works in the golf industry and is a fellow PGA member. Cody’s journey in golf began at the remarkably young age of three, and he often participated in the sport alongside his brother.
While some unverified sources suggested he might have been married at the time of his death, this information has not been confirmed, and no details about a wife or children have been officially released.
A Career From the Green to the Screen
Before gaining fame as “Beef” at Barstool, Cody Franke had a substantial career as a dedicated PGA of America Golf Professional. His path in golf was set early; after playing multiple sports as a child in Chicago, he committed to golf in high school. He went on to graduate from the PGA Golf Management program at Ferris State University in Michigan.
His professional journey included positions at the Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, California, and later at Thornberry Creek at Oneida in Wisconsin. It was in California that he began creating golf content on social media, quickly amassing a following of 30,000 in just one month by sharing tips to help others improve their game.
His big break came in late 2024 when Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy reached out. Franke joined the media company’s Fore Play podcast as its in-house golf professional, a move that required him to leave his position at the golf course to focus on content creation full-time. He saw it as an opportunity to bring his coaching expertise to a new, wider audience.
An Outpouring of Tributes from the Community
The news of Franke’s sudden passing triggered an immediate and heartfelt outpouring of grief from all corners of the sports and digital world.
- Dave Portnoy, Barstool’s founder, honored him on X, writing, “You will never find a nicer more genuine person than Beef. It’s hard to even process it right now”.
- The official Barstool Sports account called his death “absolutely devastating,” adding that he would be remembered as “one of the greatest people to ever be around”.
- Colleagues on the Fore Play podcast remembered his humor, humility, and passion, stating, “Beef brought light and laughter to every shoot, every episode, every day”.
- Fellow golf influencer Paige Spiranac paid tribute on X, simply saying, “He was such a kind and good person”.
- The PGA of America also shared a tribute, noting, “Beef’s kind, genuine and warm personality was what made him so great to be around”.
Many tributes highlighted a small but powerful habit that defined his character: Franke was known for respectfully removing his cap every single time he was introduced to someone.
In his memory, Barstool’s statement concluded, “We’ll all be removing our hats for Cody today and everyday”.
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Last Updated on October 28, 2025 by 247 News Around The World