redeared slider turtle -

Question
My grandson has a redeared slider turtle.  He brought this turle home from the outdoors when he found him as a very very small turtle about 4 years ago.  Now he is very healthy and getting very large - his shell is about 8 inches in diameter.
We would like to know if he can be released into a pond on the golf course right next to their backyard.  They see at least four turtles basking there.. Is Nikki (my grandson's turtle) able to survive in an environment like that when he was reared in his tank and never had to search for food?  He is very beautiful with a very friendly personality.  It's just that they think the turtle will need a more spacious environment. His tank is about 3'x 2'x 1 and 1/2'.  How large can he grow?  
Somehow, I don't think they would ever  be able to let him go.  However, it remains a question in their minds.

Answer
(FYI- the cage is pretty small for the size the turtle is, and Nikki shoul probably be a bit larger than what you have described by now, but he could easily get to about 12" and possibily 14-15"!)

This is really two questions in one.

Will it survive? The answer is YES. As long as it is done early enough in the year that it can establish a little territory before cold weather hits, it will do fine! The wild instincts in reptiles is very strong.

The other question is 'how will it affect the wild turtles?' Nikki has probably picked up some mild respiratory illnesses from you guys that the wild turtles might not have a resistance to. However, I find that city ponds seem to breed tough turtles and they rarely seem to have any difficulties.

Should you release it? In my opinion, turtles are tough pets for young kids. All the annoyances of an aquarium and some of the headache of a terrarium, temp control, water care, food troubles, and more for a pet you can't pet. I am a big believer in 'capture and release' pet turtles for kids.