Jason,
I don't know; but he appreciates all the comments so far, as do I.
OK, then a few notes... Memorial Park is closed on Tuesdays, as opposed to the usual Monday closing. Wildcat gets a lot of corporate events, though obviously this time of year shouldn't be too bad. If your buddy is a mid to higher hcp golfer (and doesn't carry it terribly far), the Wildcat - Lakes course would probably not be a lot of fun. Wildcat - Highlands is somewhat better in that regard, though I'd agree with others it's not a must-play.
There's a 3-course complex pretty close to IAH airport (Bush Intercontinental) called Cypresswood. The Tradition is the nicest course there - usually in good shape and probably $40-ish weekday. (Haven't played it lately, so I don't know the condition.)
One other option: If your friend is going to be in the Galleria area, and Memorial Park is not an option, a course called Pine Crest is probably 15-20 minutes away. It's not a great course, and it's not hugely challenging (tips are 6900 yds, slope ~125), but it's close enough, good enough, and cheap enough (and less crowded than Memorial Park).
I also like High Meadow Ranch, fwiw - you can play it down the middle, but the course gives you ample opportunity to work the ball if you've got that part of the game. (Though as mentioned, it is quite a schlep from town.)